Frazier happy to be back among Tigers
The Tigers had dealt their former third-round pick to Seattle last spring for Yorman Bazardo. Apparently, though, the front-office types in the Motor City had second thoughts about that dealt, because they reacquired Frazier in March for future considerations, bringing home the player who never wanted to leave in the first place.
"[The second trade] was kind of a shock to me," said Frazier, who is currently playing for Erie of the Double-A Eastern League. "The first time it happened, you never think you're going to get traded that early in your career. But then at the end of Spring Training, they told me I was going back to Detroit, and I'm really happy to come back.
"When they called me into the office when I was with Seattle to tell me, I was pretty excited. This is the organization that drafted me. I had been here for two and a half years and there was chemistry there between the coaches and the managers. Everyone was excited to see me, and I was happy to be back in Tiger Town. I think they had my same uniform stored away somewhere in a closet, so I just threw it on."
The Tigers are hoping that Frazier turns out to be a throwback when it comes to putting up numbers like he did in his first stint in the organization. In his first full season in 2005 at Class A West Michigan, he drove in 81 runs, then followed that up by driving in 73 for Lakeland in the Florida State League in 2006. His average, however, dropped 59 points after the move to the higher level, a fact that may have influenced the initial trade.
Frazier split last season between High Desert -- he couldn't stop smiling when talking about hitting in that league -- and West Tenn. His California League numbers (.329, four homers, 27 RBIs in 173 at-bats) were better than his output in the Southern League (.245, four homers, 30 RBIs in 302 at-bats). So far this year, though, he seems to have a better handle on Double-A pitching.
He's off to a solid start with the SeaWolves, hitting .310 with three homers and 11 RBIs through 62 at-bats, and he attributes some of his early success to familiar surroundings and the proximity to his family on the East Coast. Frazier is a Rutgers grad and grew up on the Jersey shore.
"This is so close to home," he said, "which is something I've never been able to do. My family has already been out to Bowie to see me. And I can't wait to go to Trenton. That's 20 minutes from home. I've never experienced that. To have a fan base and my family around is like being back in college.
"Although, I would love to hit in the Cal league everyday. With that wind whipping up, and the light air, you really get your stats up."
Frazier, without sounding the least bit cocky, says he's happy with where he's at now, and that "all his mechanics are fine." He admits he could always use some more plate discipline when it comes to working the count and driving the ball to the opposite field, but that's a goal of just about every young player.
"I'd love to barrel balls more than I have been to the opposite field," he said. "I know I can pull the ball. But when you can drive the ball the other way consistently, then you're at the top of your game. If you can hit the ball to the big part of the field and stay there consistently, things can be very good."
Frazier added that, like every young player, he'd like to move up, whether it's to Toledo or Detroit. But that will depend largely on how he does with Erie, and the organization's needs further up the ladder. He won't worry about it, though, because that is counterproductive. Still, he's ready for just about anything.
"I'm an experienced trade person now," he said. "I know how to handle things now, so nothing would be a shock to me anymore. This whole thing has given me a better understanding about what goes on, and how to read a situation."
The read he's getting right now is a positive one. He's back in the Tigers' fold, and he couldn't be happier.
Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com.