Adam Frazier’s versatility has been a blessing and a curse, as he played the middle infield and all three outfield positions before settling in at second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Being a Gold Glove finalist in his first season as the starting second baseman hasn’t stopped speculation Frazier could be juggling roles this summer now that the National League has the designated hitter.
Frazier isn’t wasting time worrying about which position he plays, as long as Pirates manager Derek Shelton has him in the lineup.
“Nobody dislikes being a DH, I can tell you that,” Frazier said. “It’s really just a refresher for your legs, that kind of deal. With the 60-game sprint, I’m sure some guys are going to need a day for their legs here and there. I’ll be ready to play. If he wants to tell me to DH, I’ve got no problem with that. Just being in the lineup, it doesn’t matter if it’s second, left, right, DH, I don’t really care. We’ll see what happens.”
The Pirates have a glut of middle infielders among the 40 players in training camp at PNC Park, so the availability of Erik Gonzalez, JT Riddle and Cole Tucker gives Shelton options. The Pirates manager has mentioned Frazier as a candidate to rotate in as the DH — along with the likes of fellow starters Josh Bell, Colin Moran and Gregory Polanco — and noted Frazier is a “good enough athlete” to play the outfield.
“There’s no plans for him to go out and play left. It’s just to be in the infield, at second,” Shelton said. “I would assume he’s going to get some DH days because it gets him off his feet. Prefer to keep his bat in the lineup, especially if there’s a right-handed pitcher on the mound that day. Chance to keep him fresh. We’re going to bounce through the DH for a bunch of guys. I would say he’s one of the guys we would bounce through. But no plans to put him in the outfield right now.”
Frazier’s steady bat likely will keep him in the lineup. He hit .276 in 2017, .277 in ’18 and .278 last season, when he started 140 games at second base and pinch-hit in 13 others. His left-handed bat was valuable against righties, as he slashed .285/.346/.436 with 25 doubles, five triples, nine homers and 39 RBIs last season.
Frazier said he didn’t feel like he hit his stride this spring but stayed sharp during the downtime by returning to Starkville, Miss., where he played at Mississippi State and was able to use “some connections” from his college days to get on a field, in a batting cage and have access to a full weight room.
“After that I felt like I was able to figure it out, feel my swing again,” Frazier said. “That was good for that aspect and myself. I was pretty fortunate to be able to keep going.”
