Prospect Profile: Todd Frazier

[Mario-Rijo]

#14 TODD FRAZIER SS | Jr. | 6-4 | 220 | Toms River South/Toms River, N.J.

Drafted 2007 MLB Amateur Draft Cincinnati Reds 1st Rd Supplemental (Sandwich) Pick #34 overall

Future MLB Position: 3B/COF

2007: Preseason Third Team All-American by Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball and National Collegiate Baseball Writers … Preseason BIG EAST Player of the Year by the leagues head coaches and Baseball America … Member of the Brooks Wallace College Player of the Year Award Preseason watch list … Rated as the top professional prospect in the Northern Region by Baseball America.

2006: A First Team All-BIG EAST selection … Started all 58 games at shortstop … Was the Scarlet Knights' No. 3 hitter in 54 games ... Led the team in batting average (.366), runs (62), total bases (136), slugging percentage (.599), hits (83), triples (3), walks (42), on-base percentage (.471) and stolen bases (21) … Was among the BIG EAST leaders in nearly every offensive category, including stolen bases (T-3rd), home runs (T-4th), runs (T-4th), total bases (6th), on-base percentage (6th), slugging percentage (6th), hits (T-7th), runs batted in (T- 8th) and batting average (10th) … Led the BIG EAST in walks (26) and was second in the league in batting average (.424) and runs scored (32), and third in on-base percentage (.538) and slugging percentage (.677) in conference action … Hit six home runs in his final 12 games, including a pair in the BIG EAST Tournament … His numbers rank among the top-10 single-season best in school history in five categories, including walks (T-3rd), home runs (T-7th), runs (T-7th), total bases (T-8th with his brother Jeff in 2004), hits (9th) … Registered multiple hits in 23 of his 58 games, including three four-hit games and one five-hit performance … Owned a nine-game hitting streak during the season … Hit safely in 16 of RU's last 17 games and enters 2007 on a seven-game hitting streak … Ranked 49th nationally in walks per game (0.72) and 65th nationally in runs-per game (1.07) … Finished 4-for-5 with three doubles, driving in six runs and scoring three more at Columbia (4/11) … Hit a two-run, game-winning home run in the seventh inning to lead Rutgers to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory Monmouth (5/11) … Named to the BIG EAST Honor Roll twice during the season … Also a New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association First Team All-State selection for the second-straight year … Named to the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll twice on April 10 and May 15 … A preseason All-BIG EAST selection.

2005: Earned Freshman All-American honors by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball… Also earned Third Team All-BIG EAST laurels and First Team All-State accolades by the NJCBA…One of two Scarlet Knights to start all 53 games… Led the team in runs (61), home runs (9), total bases (34), stolen bases (19), at bats (220) and sacrifice flies (6)… Ranked in the top-5 in the BIG EAST in runs (3rd), at bats (T-4th), sacrifice flies (T-5th) and stolen bases (T-5th), and was sixth in walks… Tied for fourth in the BIG EAST in stolen bases (7) and fifth in runs scored (22) in league play… Set the Rutgers single-season home run record for home runs by a leadoff hitter with nine… Tied for eighth on the Rutgers all-time single-season runs list… Posted a .295 batting average and a .392 on-base percentage… Started 11 games at third base and 42 at shortstop, combining for just 11 errors the entire season… Hit safely in all but 12 games and reached base safely in 50 of 53 contests… Owned a 14-game hitting streak during the season… RU's top base-runner with 19 steals in 21 attempts, including three in a game against Notre Dame (4/4)… Recorded three triples on the season… Had a season-high four hits against Columbia (4/13)… Drove in a season-best four runs each against Georgia Tech (2/25) and West Virginia (4/9).

Before Rutgers: Regarded as one of the top high school players in NJ each of his final three seasons… Drafted by the Colorado Rockies... Hit .521 as a senior and finished his career with a .443 average in four varsity seasons… Holds the school record for average, hits (121) and stolen bases (78)... Set the school single-season (12) and career home run record (26)... Was a three-time All-State, All-County and All-Shore selection at Toms River South… Member of two-time State Champions… Also starred in basketball as a four-year starter and three-time All-County pick… Owns the Toms River South record for rebounds in game with 27… Member of National Honor Society… Played with the Pt. Pleasant Merchants during the summer… Born 2/12/86… Brother, Jeff, plays in the Seattle Mariners organization and brother, Charlie, played in the Florida Marlins system… Born 2/12/86.

Year AVG GP-GS AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB S0 SB-ATT
2005 .295 53-53   220 61 65 13 3 9 36 34 43 19-21
2006 .366 58-58   227 62 83 14 3 11 51 42 42 21-28
Career .331 111-111 447 123 148 27 6 18 87 76 85 40-49

[Mario-Rijo]

Strengths/Weaknesses: Via MLB.com

http://http://www.minorleaguebasebal...jsp?mc=frazier

Hitting Ability: Frazier has good bat speed. His approach is a little unorthodox and he hits with a small trigger and a slight hand hitch.

Power: Frazier has plus raw power and projects to have above-average gap power as a pro.

Running Speed: He's a slightly below-average runner.

Base Running: Once underway, he's not bad and is much better going first-to-third than he is home-to-first.

Arm Strength: Frazier's arm is above-average and is plus at times.
Fielding: His hands are OK. He's got future average hands that should play at third base. He is not a shortstop long-term.

Range: His range is below-average, perhaps average at best. Frazier lacks first-step quickness to stay at short.

Physical Description: Frazier is a big and athletic infielder with some legitimate pop.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: Power potential and bloodlines.

Weaknesses: Frazier can be a little pull-oriented at the plate and he can get jumpy on the front side. He'll need to change the setup of his hands, though he is more under control in the box than he's been in the past.

Summary: Frazier was drafted three years ago, but he honored his commitment to Rutgers, following in his brothers' footsteps. He's had a very productive year at the plate, showing power and run production ability even though Rutgers has hit him out of the leadoff spot. He'll change his place in the order as a pro just like he'll likely change his spot defensively, from shortstop to either third or a corner outfield position. Considering the dearth of college bats in this class, it's hard to imagine he'll last long on draft day.



Brewerfan.net

http://http://www.brewerfan.net/View...=683&draftId=5

Frazier is the third of three brothers that played at Rutgers, with both of his older brothers currently playing in the minors. Todd is the most athletic of the three, with a prototypical big-league build at 6'4", 215 pounds. The Frazier brothers have been well known for their exploits playing for Tom's River Little League team out of New Jersey. The youngest Frazier currently plays shortstop, but his size will prompt a move to either third base or right field at the professional level. Few hitters available for the 2007 draft have Frazier's raw power potential, and he has proven to hit for power with wood during the summer of 2005 playing on the Cape Cod League, where he finished second in slugging percentage (.480) to last year's third overall pick, Evan Longoria, and also flashes his speed by legging out three triples to lead the circuit. Frazier's swing at this point in time is pretty big, as he rarely gets cheated at the plate, and it is something he will have to tone down so he's not overmatched at the next level. To his credit though, he also does a very good job working the count, and has drawn a high amount of walks at every stop he has made. He hit .366 last year as a sophomore after hitting .295 as a freshman, showing his ability to hit for contact. Given all of those skills, he is a true five-tool talent that can hit, hit for power, run, throw and play defense, once he finds the appropriate defensive home that is, like few other players can.

[Mario-Rijo]

And of course "the story" behind the man!

Little League hero Todd Frazier looks to jump to majors

By TOM CANAVAN, AP Sports Writer
June 7, 2007

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) -- Making the jump from the Little League World Series to the big leagues has been rare.

But soon, the feat accomplished by 31 players, including Gary Sheffield, Jason Varitek and Boog Powell, may have another name to add: Todd Frazier.


The winning pitcher when Toms River East of New Jersey won the Little League title in 1998, and now a power-hitting All-American junior shortstop from Rutgers, Frazier is considered one of the top prospects in Thursday's first-year player baseball draft.

"This is what I have always dreamed about," Frazier said. "Hopefully, it will come true. I just can't wait to see how it unfolds."

Frazier comes into the draft off a spectacular season in which he was in the top six in every offensive category for Rutgers except triples. He set the school single-season records this season for home runs (22), home runs by a leadoff hitter (22), runs scored (87), walks (62), doubles (24) and total bases (187).

In the Big East Conference tournament, he hit a mammoth, 400-plus foot home run that went over the scoreboard at Brooklyn's KeySpan Park, the home of the New York Mets' Class A affiliate.

"He has all the intangibles," said Scott Hunter, the Mets' area scout. "He can hit. He can hit with power. He can field his position. He has the arm.

"The intriguing thing about him, however, is his power," Hunter said. "That's what will make or break him."

Hunter said there are some who think Frazier will go early in the first round, and others who think he might slip to the second. Some teams also project him as a third baseman or outfielder, thinking he is too big at 6-foot-4 to be a shortstop.

Longtime Rutgers coach Fred Hill has no doubts about Frazier, ranking him among the best players ever at Rutgers, a program that has sent Eric Young, David DeJesus and others to the major leagues.

"He is an outstanding athlete, number one," Hill said. "He plays with great enthusiasm and from my standpoint, the best thing he does is that he comes into every game with a clear mind. Whatever happened the day before is forgotten."

Frazier said that was something he learned growing up.

"I enjoy baseball all the time," Frazier said. "You never know when it's going to be your last game. I can go out and go 0-for-4 and the next day the sun is going to come out. You just enjoy yourself. It's baseball."

Frazier comes from a baseball family. Two older brothers also were drafted; Charlie was taken by the Florida Marlins in 1999 and Jeff was picked by Seattle in 2004.

While Frazier could opt to return to Rutgers for his senior year if the draft doesn't go his way, his voice indicates he is ready to move on.

"It's a crazy thing," Frazier said. "You just go in there and hope the best happens for you."

In some ways it was like going to the Little League World Series. There were lots of good teams and things managed to work out.

Frazier has found it hard to remain in contact with all his Little League teammates, but he is looking forward to a 10-year reunion in 2008. However, he says his time in Williamsport, Pa. as a 12-year-old was invaluable.

"Playing and having 44,000 people watching you in pressure situations when you are young, I mean, that's helped out big through high school and college," Frazier said. "Now you just see a pressure situation and you just have fun with it. You don't worry about a thing because you know you can do it, and you know you can do these challenges."

After Thursday, Frazier is hoping that next challenge is with a major league team or one of its affiliates.

[reds44]

Great work.

[Mario-Rijo]

Game Log to date:

[PHP]Date Level Pos AB H 2B 3B HR SO BB SB CS
July 17 Rook vs. Ogden SS 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
July 15 Rook vs. Ogden SS 5 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
July 14 Rook vs. Ogden SS 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
July 13 Rook vs. Orem DH 6 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
July 12 Rook vs. Orem SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
July 11 Rook vs. Orem DH 4 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
[/PHP]


Which is good for little, of course it's early yet. But here's the line anyhow.

.286 Avg
.286 OBP%
.286 Slg%
No XB Hits
4 RBI
5 Runs
3/0 K/BB

[Mario-Rijo]

Great work.

Thanks 44, I was kinda putting it together since yesterday hoping he would fall to me.

[reds44]

No Todd Fraizer thread is complete without:

[Mario-Rijo]

No Todd Fraizer thread is complete without:

Awesome, Thanks reds44!

[RedLegsToday]

I found this article at the billings gazette:

http://billingsgazette.net/articles/...20-frazier.txt

[BoydsOfSummer]

Nice article. I have a good feeling about thisguy.

[Mario-Rijo]

Nice article. I have a good feeling about thisguy.

Same here. I think if he works out a couple of little things at the plate he will move quickly. Obviously they need to find him a defensive position and that should begin towards the end of this season or beggining of next. Let him get comfortable at the plate 1st and then move him around a bit.

[Mario-Rijo]

Up to date stats.

Current game log:

Game Log
 
Date     Level                Pos AB H 2B 3B HR SO BB 
August 5 Rook @ Helena        SS  5  3 1  0  1  1  0 
August 4 Rook @ Missoula      SS  3  1 0  0  0  0  1 
August 3 Rook @ Missoula      SS  4  1 0  0  0  1  0 
August 2 Rook @ Missoula      SS  3  0 0  0  0  1  2 
August 1 Rook vs. Great Falls DH  2  0 0  0  0  0  2 
July 31  Rook vs. Great Falls SS  3  0 0  0  0  1  2 
July 30  Rook vs. Great Falls SS  4  2 1  0  0  0  0 
July 29  Rook vs. Missoula    SS  4  1 0  0  0  0  1 
July 28  Rook vs. Missoula    SS  3  2 0  0  0  0  0 
July 27  Rook vs. Missoula    SS  4  1 0  0  0  0  0

[Mario-Rijo]

Basic and extended stats:

Year Team     PA  AB R  H  2B 3B HR RBI BB SO  AVG  OBP  SLG OPS 
2007 Billings 103 89 15 25 2  0  3  12  9  15 .281 .369 .404 773


Year  Team     PA  AB ISOP BB%  K%    BABIP GB% LD% RC RC/27 wOBA 
2007  Billings 103 89 .123 8.7% 14.6% .310  41% 22%          .348

[Mario-Rijo]

Split Statistics with Billings Mustangs in 2007:

Splt PA AB ISOP HR BB%   K%    BABIP GB% LD%  AVG  OBP  SLG wOBA 
July 76 67 .104 2  5.3%  13.2% .327  40% 25% .299 .368 .403 .346 
Augt 27 22 .182 1  18.5% 18.5% .250  44% 12% .227 .370 .409 .351 
AWAY 48 41 .244 3  8.3%  22.9% .296  41% 14% .268 .375 .512 .386 
HOME 55 48 .021 0  9.1%  7.3%  .318  40% 28% .292 .364 .313 .314

[mbgrayson]

Baseball Prospctus Monday Morning 10 pack 8/13/07 (fair use):

Todd Frazier, SS, Rookie-level Billings (Reds)

Frazier got plenty of attention from me in Ten Packs this spring while at Rutgers. There and then, he was busy rewriting the team record book, including new single-season (22) and career (42) home run marks. The fact that he’s not a true shortstop dropped him four picks away from the first round, but he received an $825,000 bonus and reported to the Pioneer League. After a slow start, Frazier is turning it on, delivering a four-hit game on Friday night and adding three more Saturday to offset an 0-for-2 night on Sunday that dropped his season numbers to .324/.413/.491 in 28 contests. Still at shortstop for the time being, it’s no surprise that Frazier has been sound there, committing just four errors, but he just lacks the speed and first-step quickness to provide major league range. Third base is a likely destination, but it doesn’t matter too much because the kid can hit.