FRAZIER PREPARES TO THRIVE AS EVERYDAY 2B

ALL BUT THREE PLAYERS HAVE REPORTED; PIRATES USE RAPSODO TO HELP INFORM HITTERS

When the early-arriving position players made their way out to one of the fields at the Pirate City complex on Saturday morning, Adam Frazier lined up with prospect Kevin Kramer at second base. Frazier can get comfortable there after years of bouncing around the diamond.

Frazier is set to be the Pirates' starting second baseman this season. So unless there's an unexpected development, he doesn't have to worry about following his work at second with fly balls in the outfield or grounders at another position. The Bucs hope that kind of consistency will bring out the best in him.

Frazier still has a lot of work to do, by getting himself ready for the upcoming 2019 season. Frazier is looking forward to doing what needs to be done in spring training and then Frazier needs to hit the ground running.  

Frazier said. "Being able to focus on that one position is huge mentally, not having to scatter thoughts everywhere and run out to different places every day. I'm looking forward to that."

Frazier said he learned during his exit interview last season that the Pirates' plan was to use him exclusively at second base going forward. He is effectively taking over for free agent Josh Harrison, also a former super-utility man who earned an everyday role. When Frazier worked out this winter, he did so only at second base.

For the first time in a long time Frazier went into the offseason having the knowledge that when he got to training camp he already had a job. Second base is now for Frazier to lose.

Frazier occasionally struggled in the infield as he moved around the field, playing six positions during his first three seasons. He showed improvement at second base late last season, however, after being demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis and working with Pirates infield coordinator Gary Green.

When Frazier got together with Green, Green asked Frazier what he needed to work on and what Frazier wanted to do, so they started to work on that part of his game. Frazier goes in to this Spring with a new approach by attacking the ball with both feet more and with my hands, Frazier needs to learn to getting through the ball instead of getting stuck back waiting on it. The focus down there, when Frazier came back, Frazier was able to do it at the big league level. It was basically just being more aggressive.

Frazier's second-half adjustment at the plate was less complicated. For the first few months of the season, his swing was too long and his timing was off because his hands were too high.

Frazier just like most ball players thought that he knew his swing going into last season. Frazier always kind of pride himself on knowing that part of his game. However, after seeing the video, Frazier realized that where he was and where he wanted to be was pretty eye opening for Frazier. Now, Frazier has made that change, got the cues on what he wanted to work which was to keep the hands low and other little things like that.

Frazier's father, Tim, helped identify the problem, and Frazier made the necessary changes in Triple-A. He took off at the plate after he returned to the Majors on July 25, slashing .306/.357/.533 with seven homers the rest of the way. According to the Pirates brass there’s no reason for Frazier to make any adjustment right now.

AROUND THE HORN

• Center fielder Starling Marte, shortstop Erik Gonzalez and outfield prospects Bryan Reynolds and Jason Martin joined the position players at Pirate City on Saturday. As of Saturday morning, only three hitters had not reported: Pablo Reyes, the recently signed Melky Cabrera and first-base prospect Will Craig.

• This is the first Spring Training that the Pirates are using Rapsodo tracking technology for their hitters. Rapsodo captures information such as exit velocity and launch angle as well as spin rate, among other data, for pitchers. New hitting coaches Rick Eckstein and Jacob Cruz are well-versed in the technology, Hurdle said, and the Pirates introduced it to their players over the winter.

"We wanted to incorporate it into our training sessions just so we could give them some instant feedback daily. We believe there's some value to it," Hurdle said. "There's some information that we can glean from it that can be productive for the guys as they continue to look for positive feedback in some of the swing adjustments they're making."

• The Pirates are scheduled to begin live batting practice, when their pitchers face their hitters, during Sunday's workout. Pittsburgh's big league pitchers will throw to hitters who reported early for Minor League camp.