Clint Frazier

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #2 prospect in 2017
  The Indians used the fifth overall selection in the 2013 draft to take Frazier, the BA High School Player of the Year, and they signed him for $3.5 million. Cleveland dealt Frazier to the Yankees in 2016 along with lefthander Justus Sheffield and relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller in the deal that sent closer Andrew Miller to the Indians. Frazier's calling card is his elite bat speed, which is generated by a taut, muscular frame and huge forearms. That bat speed produces well above-average raw power. He has worked to quiet his pre-swing movement to help cut down on his growing strikeout totals. He's got above-average speed, which has served him well on the bases and in the field. He has worked at all three outfield positions in his career, but his above-average throwing arm would serve him well in a corner spot. His range could be helpful in left field, which evaluators have noted is more challenging than right field at Yankee Stadium. Frazier struggled at both Triple-A stops in 2016 and will return there in 2017. A student of the game, he will continue to work on pitch recognition and cutting down his strikeout rate in the hopes that he can make his debut late in the season.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 2016
  The Indians made Frazier, the 2013 Baseball America High School Player of the Year, the first high school position player drafted that June, and then signed him for a franchise-record $3.5 million as the fifth overall pick. His full-season debut at low Class A Lake County did not go smoothly after a pulled hamstring delayed his start to the year. He has gotten back on track since, earning all-star honors at high Class A Lynchburg in 2015 and finishing the year with a solid performance in the Arizona Fall League. Frazier stands out most for his power, which his exceptional bat speed helps to create. His 16 home runs ranked second in the Carolina League in 2015, behind only teammate Nellie Rodriguez. Some swing-and-miss comes with his power, though he cut his strikeout rate dramatically in 2015, going from nearly 30 percent in 2014 to 21 percent the next year. The Indians helped Frazier make some adjustments to his swing, quieting his hands and helping him to make more consistent contact. His approach has also matured, and he does a better job of not allowing at bats to gt away from him. He is an above-average runner, and the Indians believe he can stay in center field, but Cleveland has stockpiled a large group of center fielders, including No. 1 prospect Bradley Zimmer. While the two were teammates at Lynchburg, Zimmer played mostly center field and Frazier spent more time in right, where his above-average arm will play. After his successful AFL campaign, Frazier is on track to begin 2016 at Double-A Akron.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #3 prospect in 2015
  Frazier weathered a difficult first full season. The fifth overall pick in 2013 after being the Baseball America High School Player of the Year--and the recipient of the largest draft bonus in franchise history at $3.5 million-- had a challenging year at low Class A Lake County. A pulled hamstring held him back in spring training and he took some time to get his bat on track, though he did recover to hit .282/.367/.448 with nine homers in the second half. Frazier's pure tools stand out, especially at the plate. His hands are extremely fast and he whips his bat through the zone, which, combined with strong forearms, allows him generate plenty of raw power. His approach is another matter, for his 161 strikeouts were the third most in the Midwest League. He does show some ability to recognize pitches but needs to manage his at-bats better. By the end of the season, though, Frazier had made progress at staying back on balls and not getting to his front side too early. He's an above-average runner and the Indians would like to keep him in center field, though his play there needs more polish as well. His arm strength would play in right. One of Frazier or Bradley Zimmer will have to move off center field if the two are teammates next season at high Class A Lynchburg. The Indians remain high on Frazier's loud tools, but his rough edges need refinement.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #2 prospect in 2014
  Frazier cemented his star prospect status when he belted two home runs in a March 2013 game for Loganville (Ga.) High against crosstown rival Grayson High, which was led by Frazier's friend and fellow first-rounder Austin Meadows. The audience that night included more than 1,300 fans, hordes of scouts and scouting directors--and a few general mangers. Frazier went on to win the Baseball America High School Player of the Year award after hitting .485 with 17 homers for Loganville and signed for $3.5 million, the largest bonus Cleveland ever has given a drafted player, as the fifth overall pick. Frazier comes loaded with tools. He can put on shows in batting practice, with his raw power rating a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He generates lightning-quick bat speed and takes short, quick swings. Like most teenage hitters, Frazier will swing and miss too much at times. He'll have to get accustomed to pitchers throwing him a steady diet of breaking balls as he moves up, but the Indians believe he'll be able to make the adjustment and will hit for solid averages. An infielder until his junior year in high school, Frazier impressed the team with how quickly his outfield play progressed. His routes and angles need to get better, but he has the above-average speed to play center field. Some scouts believe he'll eventually outgrow center, though his above-average arm would fit fine in right if he does move. Between Frazier and Francisco Lindor, the Indians boast two elite prospects at up-the-middle positions, with Frazier having the most offensive impact potential of any hitter in the system. After a successful showing in the Rookie-level Arizona League in his pro debut, he'll go to low Class A Lake County as a 19-year-old in 2014.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #4 prospect in 2013 draft
  Frazier brings premium bat speed, solid athleticism and an all-out style, making him a strong contender to be the first high school player drafted this year. However, scouts do not put him in the same class as last year's top prospect, fellow Georgia prep outfielder Byron Buxton (now with the Twins). While he's modestly sized, Frazier has fast-twitch athleticism and strength in his hands, wrists and forearms. He generates tremendous bat speed and plus-plus raw power that should play at any level. He hits 'em far and hits homers with regularity. While Frazier has a compact swing, scouts expect him to swing and miss a decent amount with his aggressive approach and modest feel for hitting. He's an above-average runner whose speed plays better offensively than in the field. Frazier's defense in center field remains raw; he lacks instincts and tries to outrun his mistakes. He has shown above-average arm strength in the past, but scouts say he has played through pain this spring and his arm has played as average or worse at times. Thanks to his bat and power, Frazier should hit enough if he has to move to a corner and fits in the first 10 selections.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #16 prospect in 2017
  The Yankees acquired Frazier in July 2016 when they sent Andrew Miller to the Indians. He appeared in the IL for a month last season but made big strides this year by improving his walk and strikeout rates on his way to a callup to New York on July 1. With plus bat speed, Frazier delivered power in Triple-A and the majors this season, but some evaluators think he always will pair home runs with strikeouts and low batting averages because of a limiting, rigid swing. With sufficient pitch recognition, though, he can be an impact power hitter. An above-average runner with a plus arm, Frazier has the tools to turn into an above-average defender in either outfield corner, with the versatility to play center if needed.
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  Ranked Eastern League #8 prospect in 2016
  The Indians traded Frazier, the fifth overall pick in the 2013 draft, to the Yankees in July as the key prospect for Andrew Miller. Frazier draws raves for his combination of plus power and above-average speed. His swing is short, compact and features some of the best bat speed in the minors, thanks to exceptionally strong forearms, hands and wrists. He's also a baseball rat who zealously studies opposing hitters and pitchers. Frazier's speed allows him to play center field, but he saw most of his time at Akron and Scranton on an outfield corner. He has improved his reads and jumps this year. His well above-average arm positions him as a profile right fielder.
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  Ranked Carolina League #5 prospect in 2015
  Slowly but surely, Frazier's tools are translating into skills. The High School Player of the Year in 2013 and fifth overall pick that same year produced erratic results in his full-season debut at low Class A Lake County in 2014 before rebounding this season at Lynchburg. Frazier's top-of-the-scale bat speed this year helped him rank among the Carolina League leaders with a .285 average (fourth), 16 home runs (second) and 72 RBIs (third), while leading the circuit with 143 hits, 36 doubles and 55 extra-base hits. He also showed a disciplined approach with the third-most walks (68). His swing features a bit of a hand hitch, but his bat speed more than compensates. Frazier split time between center and right field with 2014 first-rounder Bradley Zimmer before the latter earned a promotion to Double-A. Frazier has enough range to play in center, but his strong arm, which will improve with refined throwing mechanics, should push him to right field eventually. Managers across the league noted Frazier's exceptional work habits and change in approach from a strictly pull-oriented hitter into one who can unleash doubles to all sectors. He completes his skill set with above-average speed.
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  Ranked Midwest League #9 prospect in 2014
  Scouts and managers were disappointed in what they saw from Frazier, the fifth pick in the 2013 draft. He showed plenty of bat speed, but it came with a pull-happy, grip-it-and-rip-it approach that suggested a clear plan of attack for any pitcher with a feel for locating his offspeed offerings. While he did strike out too much (his 161 strikeouts were third most in the league), Frazier showed some pop thanks to that excellent bat speed and loose, handsy swing. While evaluators were disappointed, he did show he has a chance to hit for above-average power if he can refine his approach. To best profile, Frazier needs to be able to stick in center field, but he has a lot of work to do defensively as well. He's an above-average runner, but his routes and breaks were poor.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #1 prospect in 2013
  Scouts flocked to the small town of Loganville this spring, as two of the top high school talents played for rival high schools. Frazier earned top prospect honors in the AZL, while fellow Loganville product Austin Meadows, now with the Pirates, was the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. Frazier was the first of the two to be drafted, going fifth overall to the Indians and signing quickly for $3.5 million. It didn?t take long for Frazier to demonstrate his off-the-charts bat speed, which he generates with extremely strong hands and forearms. He homered in his first professional at-bat shortly after joining the AZL Indians and later tripled in the same game. Frazier is a five-tool player with fast twitch athleticism. He?ll have enough range to stay in center field and his above-average arm would also allow a move to right. Frazier?s arm was a little tender early in the season as a result of the number of pre-draft showcases, but he gained arm strength as the summer progressed. AZL Indians manager Anthony Medrano confirmed that Frazier needs to improve his plate discipline and learn to swing at strikes to make more consistent contact. But Frazier has all the makings of a future star. ?He doesn?t lack confidence,? Medrano said. ?Everything we?ve expected we?ve gotten out of him.?

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #39 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #44 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #48 prospect in 2014

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Indians used the fifth overall selection in the 2013 draft to take Frazier, the BA High School Player of the Year, and they signed him for $3.5 million. Cleveland dealt Frazier to the Yankees in 2016 along with lefthander Justus Sheffield and relievers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller in the deal that sent closer Andrew Miller to the Indians. Scouting Report: Frazier's calling card is his elite bat speed, which is generated by a taut, muscular frame and huge forearms. That bat speed produces well above-average raw power. He has worked to quiet his pre-swing movement to help cut down on his growing strikeout totals. He's got above-average speed, which has served him well both on the bases and in the field. He has worked at all three outfield positions in his career, but his above-average throwing arm would serve him well in a corner spot. His range could be helpful in left field, which evaluators have noted is more challenging than right field at Yankee Stadium. The Future: Frazier struggled at both Triple-A stops in 2016 and will return there in 2017. A student of the game, he will continue to work on pitch recognition and cutting down his strikeout rate in the hopes that he can make his debut late in the season.