In 2021, Clint Frazier really struggled. After compiling a 150 OPS+ during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he dipped to 76 the following season.
Frazier tried to search for solutions, but thinks he might have made things worse. In only 19 games for the Cubs last season, Frazier’s OPS+ just rose to 88. Needing to find a team for 2023, Frazier signed with the Rangers and reunited with hitting coach Tim Hyers, whom he has known since playing high school ball in Georgia.
No, things didn’t work out for Frazier in Texas - he was released April 24 after playing 15 games with Triple-A Round Rock - but Hyers might have made a lasting impact.
“I definitely realized I don’t know as much about baseball as I thought that I did, which is why Tim Hyers was such a great asset for me,” Frazier said. “The pillars of hitting, the important things in my swing to focus on… he got me in a good place and that place led to me being here in Chicago.”
Frazier arrived to the White Sox on Sunday when his contract was selected from Triple-A Charlotte, with Jake Marisnick being designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Once a top prospect with Cleveland and the Yankees, Frazier was hitting .375 with seven home runs and a 1.317 OPS in 16 games with Charlotte.
On Sunday, Frazier went 1 for 3 and scored a run.
An odd injury
Tim Anderson was supposed to get a full day off, but had to replace Hanser Alberto after Alberto hurt his left arm in the fifth inning trying to beat out a bunt.
He might’ve gotten injured gesturing that he was safe.
“He laid down a perfect bunt, he’s running down the line and he just waved his hands safe and he felt his shoulder kind of [pop] in and out, but he’s good,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s day to day and his strength was good. It was actually really good news.”
Anderson went to shortstop and Romy Gonzalez moved to second.
The right man for the job?
Eloy Jimenez (appendectomy) will need a rehab assignment before returning to the lineup, and part of his preparation will include defensive work to get him ready to play right field.
Jimenez won’t play there every game, but he’ll be in the mix, allowing Jake Burger and Yoan Moncada to stay in the lineup at the same time.
“It’s not like before, ‘We need the bat, get in the lineup.’ We need him to play some right field, as well,” Grifol said. “So it might take a couple days extra, just because we’ve got to get right field working, as well, and the legs and everything.”
Staying hot
Two of the Sox’ best players in May have been Luis Robert Jr. and Joe Kelly. Both kept that going Sunday.
Robert’s fourth-inning home run was his 13th of the season and eighth of the month. Kelly picked up his first save of the season with a perfect ninth, and has gotten 31 of the last 32 batters he’s faced, with 16 coming on strikeouts.
WHITE SOX VS. GUARDIANS
Monday: TBD vs. Hunter Gaddis (0-1, 6.86 ERA), 5:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM
Tuesday: Dylan Cease (2-3, 4.78) vs. Logan Allen (1-1, 3.04), 5:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM
Wednesday: Michael Kopech (2-4, 4.83) vs. Cal Quantrill (2-2, 4.06), 12:10 p.m., NBCSCH 1000-AM
