Clint's hot bat gives Yanks decision to ponder

NEW YORK -- If the Yankees are still planning on sending Clint Frazier back to the Minor Leagues, the rookie outfielder's exciting play is making it a difficult call for general manager Brian Cashman.
Frazier helped spark the lineup in Wednesday's 9-5 victory over the Reds, delivering a pair of two-out RBI singles before scoring from first base on a Gary Sánchez double, sliding past Cincinnati catcher Tucker Barnhart before popping up to stomp on home plate.
 

"It's big for me," Frazier said. "I'm trying to show that I can play at this level every day, every time I step on the field. It's cool to go out there and keep having moments like I had today, but it's even more cool when we're all clicking and winning the game."
Rated as the Yankees' No. 2 prospect by MLBPipeline.com, Frazier connected twice off Reds starter Homer Bailey, driving a run-scoring single to right field in the third inning and another to left field in the fifth. That approach impressed Todd Frazier, who noted that the 22-year-old rookie "doesn't look nervous at all."

"He's played extremely well," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He's driven in runs. He's scored runs. He runs the bases extremely well. I'm really pleased with what he's doing, and that's why he's playing."
Cashman said last week that when Aaron Hicks is activated from the disabled list, the corresponding move will be to "send Frazier out," leaving the Yankees with an outfield of Hicks, Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Aaron Judge.
"For me, you always approach the decision when it's time to make the decision," Girardi said. "We're still weeks away from having to make a decision. There's a ton of things that can happen before then. Brian's thought there is that you want him to play every day. Hopefully everyone stays healthy, but you never know."

Frazier has assembled a .290/.306/.565 slash line in 18 games, collecting six doubles, two triples, three homers and 13 RBIs. He has walked just twice against 20 strikeouts, but one of those free passes came in the seventh inning on Wednesday.
"If the decision is set in stone, there's not much I can do to change that. I don't know," Frazier said. "I haven't had a conversation with anyone on the team about the future. It's still a couple of weeks away, and a lot can happen in that time. I'm just trying to make it a harder decision."
Frazier was not the Yanks' first choice to promote from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre -- he made his Major League debut on July 1 only after Dustin Fowler sustained a season-ending injury -- but he has made the most of his opportunity.
"I feel pretty poised when I get up there. I don't feel out of place," Frazier said. "I don't feel like I'm overmatched. It's just another at-bat for me. Just because there's guys on base doesn't mean I'm going to change what I'm doing. The way I try to look at it is the pitcher's the one in trouble, not me."