Todd Frazier IS a Superstar

By Peyton Wesner

In 2012, Todd Frazier's future was uncertain. He was beginning his third season at Louisville, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, thanks to him being optioned at the end of Spring Training and some were not sure if he would ever get a chance to play every day in the Big Leagues. The year before, the best player in the 1998 Little League World Series made his Major League debut and hit six home runs in forty-one games, but a step back the following season was obviously not what he was desiring. But good things happen to those who wait, right? In this case, yes! Frazier would only play ten games in Triple-A before being recalled to the Queen City, where he would swat nineteen home runs and drive in sixty-seven RBIs with a batting average of .273. Despite those good numbers, Frazier did not capture National League Rookie of the Year honors as Bryce Harper grabbed it with a season of twenty-two home runs, fifty-nine RBIs, eighteen stolen bases, and a .270 average. In 2015, the script of 2012 between the two players may be flipped but for an even bigger award, the National League Most Valuable Player.

So far this season, both Washington's Bryce Harper and Cincinnati's Todd Frazier are turning heads and impressing the nation, especially Frazier. Anyone can see that the third baseman from Toms Rivers, New Jersey, has had a long journey to gain so much attention, praise, and respect from MLB experts, but there is no doubt he deserves it. Coming into today's action, Frazier has a National League second best twenty-two home runs to go along with forty-six RBIs and a .294 average! In his last two games, the Reds' star has clobbered four home runs and drove in seven of Cincinnati's thirteen runs, four of which came on a walk off grand slam last night, in back-to-back wins against American League powerhouse Detroit. He has even outperformed the great Miguel Cabrera so far in a head to head series that concludes tonight. If one wants to look back even farther at Frazier's performances, six of his fourteen hits in his last thirty-nine at bats have been absolute bombs. Although, he is on pace to eclipse previous career highs in home runs (29), runs batted in (80), and average (.273), Frazier is not likely to start the All-Star Game in his home stadium due to St. Louis' Matt Carpenter having twice as many votes. Even Cubs' Rookie Kris Bryant has more votes than Frazier! In the American League, fan voting has all but one starter not from Kansas City and with that development in addition to Frazier's, Major League Baseball can see that the time to make a change in their methods is coming.

Nevertheless if Todd Frazier does not start for the National League at the hot corner when July 14 arrives, he will still be the host of the festivites and figures to be the Home Run Derby captain for the NL. Until then, he will continue to make opposing pitching regret offering him anything hittable.