Clint Frazier. |
On Monday morning, the Yankees returned outfielder Clint Frazier from rehab and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list, which he was on since April 23 with a left ankle sprain.
In 18 games, Frazier was hitting .324 with 6 home runs and 17 RBI, with a .342 on-base percentage and a .632 slugging percentage, taking full advantage of finally being in the everyday lineup.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone said of Frazier in his pregame press conference before Monday's game against Seattle, "He's been a very good player for us this year, so to get him back in the fold, as well as he was playing for us, as good a player as we think he is, he's a guy that we feel like's going to get back in there and help us win ballgames, so the fact that he's back and in there is just another, us building a little bit, starting to get some guys back, and having him back in the fold should help."
The Yankees also welcomed back third baseman Miguel Andujar over the weekend, so their lineup is gradually starting to look like what they envisioned.
Boone said of how Frazier has grown this season at the plate, "I was really impressed with him last year, in a lot of ways a lost year with the injuries and stuff, but he shows right away what a talented hitter that he is. Being a young guy with all that bat speed and the talent that he possesses, he's very much under control up there, and you know, you hear me talk a lot about controlling the strike zone, and that's something that he does really, really well, especially for a young player. That's something that's served him well this season, as he's played really well. A big reason of that is because he gets into favorable counts, and he doesn't chase a lot."
The Yankees acquired Cameron Maybin the day Frazier was put on the IL, and he has been phenomenal in his time with the pinstripes.
Through Sunday's game, Maybin is hitting .333 (7-for-21), and when you throw in his six walks, has a .481 on-base percentage. He has 2 RBI and scored 5 runs, with only 5 strikeouts in 8 games.
Boone said of Maybin staying in the lineup everyday with Frazier' return, "I mean, he's not in there today, but yeah, he's still very much going to play a bunch. We've got two lefties coming up the next couple days (Seattle's Yusei Kikuchi on Tuesday and Mike Leake on Wednesday), he'll certainly be in there, could be in there that final day (of the Seattle series on Thursday).
"He's been big for us. He's played really well in the field wherever we put him. He's, I feel, really fit in well in our clubhouse and brought something to our team. I feel like he's probably a little bit rejuvenated getting this opportunity and playing here. You can tell he's comfortable and likes being here, and then he's had really good at-bats for us every single day, and that's something that's really impressed me, you know, whether he gets a hit or not or whatever, he's doing a really good job of making the pitcher work.
"He's been one of those guys that has allowed us to not only stay afloat here over these last several weeks where we've hit some adversity, but he's had a big hand in us being able to win ballgames regularly."
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