FRAZIER
TAKES THE REINS AT 2B
With Spring Training
approaching, it's time for an in-depth look at the Pirates' roster. This is the
fifth part of a series checking in on their current and future options at each
position. Next up: second base.
BIG
QUESTION: IS ADAM FRAZIER READY
FOR THE EVERYDAY ROLE?
The last three years, Josh Harrison was
the Pirates' Opening Day starter at second base. For five years before that, it
was Neil Walker.
Now, it looks like Frazier will get a chance to take the job and run with it.
This should be Frazier's third straight Opening Day start
at a third different position. Frazier started in left field in 2017 with Gregory
Polanco nursing an injury, and he was the Opening Day
designated hitter in Detroit last year. Barring an injury, a late acquisition
or something else unforeseen, Frazier should be lining up at second in
Cincinnati on March 28.
Frazier showed his upside as a hitter as he rode a
second-half surge to a .277/.342/.456 slash line last season. But there will be
questions about his defense. Frazier looked shaky in the infield during his
first two years in the Majors, and he struggled as he moved around the field
early last season. He looked better, for the most part, as he played on a more
regular basis over the final two months of the season.
Will more consistent work at second base make Frazier a
more dependable defender this year?
THE
STARTER: FRAZIER
There was a pretty clear dividing line in Frazier's 2018 season. In the first
half, he struggled to a .678 OPS and got optioned twice. When he came back in
the second half, he had fixed a flaw in his approach at the plate -- his hands
were too high -- and worked on his defense in Triple-A. He hit .306/.357/.533
the rest of the way, and he got more consistent playing time at second base
while Harrison nursed an injury down the stretch.
As they hope to contend this year, the Pirates are
betting on a lot of internal improvement. They could get it from Frazier.
Harrison was an All-Star worth 3.3 Wins above
Replacement in 2017, but that total dipped to 0.3 bWAR in
374 plate appearances over 97 games last year. Frazier, meanwhile, totaled 2.7
bWAR in 352 plate appearances over 113 games in 2018. If he can maintain that
level of production over a full season, he'll be a valuable upgrade for
Pittsburgh.
Only time will tell if Frazier can hold his own all year
defensively, but we should get a feel early on where he will fit in the lineup.
He was manager Clint Hurdle's most frequently used leadoff man (47 times) last
season, and 126 of his 187 career starts have been in the leadoff spot. Left
fielder Corey
Dickerson could be a fit there as well, as he was during
one hot streak last season, but he might be better suited for the middle of the
order while Polanco is rehabbing to start the season.
DEPTH: KEVIN KRAMER, PABLO REYES, ERIK GONZALEZ / KEVIN NEWMAN
Kramer and Reyes had very different introductions to the Majors last September.
Kramer, a more touted prospect, hit just .135 and struck out 20 times in 40
plate appearances; he only started seven games. Reyes, a relative unknown,
burst onto the scene with a .293/.349/.483 slash line and three homers in 63
plate appearances; he wound up starting 13 games, including nine of
Pittsburgh's last 12 contests.
Both should be competing for a spot on the Opening Day
bench this season, with Kramer hoping for better results and Reyes looking to
prove he was more than a small-sample-size success. Reyes offers a little more
versatility as an infielder/outfielder, but Kramer is a solid defender at
second, third and shortstop.
Newman has played and worked out at second base, and
Gonzalez worked at second -- among many other positions -- during his time with
the Indians. At this point, however, those two are set to compete for the
starting shortstop job. Perhaps they would become utility infielders if the
Pirates acquire a veteran shortstop, which would allow them to spend some time
at short and back up Frazier at second.
IN
THE PIPELINE: STEPHEN ALEMAIS
All of the above candidates are young and under club control for many years to
come, so the Pirates should be able to fill the position with some combination
of Frazier, Kramer, Reyes, Newman and Gonzalez for a couple more seasons. But
Alemais is worth watching if only for his defense.
Alemais, Pittsburgh's No. 18 prospect,
according to MLB Pipeline, is a natural shortstop who moved to second base last
year while Cole Tucker was
the everyday shortstop for Double-A Altoona. Alemais hasn't been invited to big
league camp, but he should move up to Triple-A Indianapolis this season.
Alemais hit .279 with a .346 on-base percentage last
season, striking out only 69 times in 461 plate appearances, but he slugged
just .346 with one homer and 16 doubles. The right-handed-hitting 23-year-old
put up a .316/.385/.432 slash line against left-handers last season, so he has
more to offer than just a strong glove.
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