CNATI: Cincinnati OH Sports Journalism

Spring Training 2010

Frazier finding his place

By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted March 18, 2010 8:40 PM ET

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Todd Frazier has six different gloves in locker at the Reds' spring training complex -- a first baseman's mitt, two outfielder's gloves, a middle infield glove, a third base glove and a backup infield glove.

In the future, the Reds would certainly like to make his roadtrips easier by lightening his load and maybe make it one or two gloves, but which ones those will be are still in question.

Right now, Frazier, the team's top prospect, doesn't seem to care. He's having the time of his life playing each position. So far this spring he's played in leftfield, second base, first base and served as the team's designated hitter. While he won't likely do much of the last spot for the Reds, the others are all possibilities, as are third base and shortstop.

"I still don't know what they want out of me, if they want me to play every position or if they're trying to find a position for me," Frazier said. "Whatever they choose is fine with me, I don't mind playing all the positions or just one."

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said it may be a little of both.

"If he makes the club this year, it will be playing different positions - that way he will be able to help us at first base to spell Joey (Votto) from time-to-time and third base to spell Scott (Rolen) and some in the outfield," Jocketty said. "When he establishes himself, it'll be at one position."

That could even be second, where he's played 37 games last season. At Class AA Carolina and Class AAA Louisville, Frazier played 79 games in left, 15 at first and four at third. He played shortstop in college at Rutgers and has even seen time in practice this spring at short.

On Monday, there was a pretty familiar sound as he was scheduled to go take infield and he had to ask the coaches where - one of the coaches responded, "shortstop, let's see some of that Tom's River magic," referring to Frazier's Little League World Series fame, when he went 4-for-4 with a homer in the championship game victory over Japan.

While he still considers himself a shortstop - most players who have played the position do - he's found a bright spot in just about each of the other spots, which isn't surprising if you spend any time around Frazier, who is as upbeat and positive a person as there may be in the game. His answers about each position tell you as much about Frazier as a person as it does as a baseball player.

* Left field: "I love left. I played about 75 percent out there last year in AA, I don't know. You're out there by yourself and you can talk to yourself and nobody knows. You get that at-bat, you talk to yourself a little bit and you feel better. At least that's what I do. I'm a little different. It makes me who I am. It doesn't matter."

* "Shortstop, you control the infield, I like that. You've got a little power."

* "Third base you have to be ready, just like first base, you have to react."

* "At second base, you're on an island out there. And you work with the shortstop to figure out double plays. I enjoy that."

* First base: "I like to talk to the first base coach and other players, not during the play. That's what makes the game. But ultimately your focus is on the batter, but a little chat there can't hurt."

Frazier's chatted up just about every player in the Reds clubhouse, picking up tips and advice. Frazier's an astute student of the game and people -- it's one of the things that's made him a good poker player too, in 2008 he won the Reds Community Fund Celebrity Poker Tournament at Redsfest and donated the first-place $10,000 prize to the Reds Community Fund.

"In his situation, he can learn a lot just by being here," Jocketty said. "Ideally you'd like him to play a lot, but he's played quite a bit. Young guys can learn an awful lot by being around, even if it's playing occasionally and when you're on the bench and learning about the pace of the game at this level and learning from the veterans. It takes a special individual to be able to do that, but we feel Todd is a special player. A lot of guys can't do that."

The Reds could use him as a Chone Figgins-type early in his career, playing most days but never in the same spot. However, this spring he hasn't exactly forced their hand, hitting .176 with a .300 on-base percentage. He has a double and two RBIs in 17 at-bats.

That's just a bit of spring, Frazier hit .290 in Carolina last season and .302 in Louisville. In his minor league career, he's hit .296. There's little doubt his bat will come along with him. Ultimately, he'll find a position, but Jocketty said he already knows here he likes Frazier best: "I like him in the lineup."

Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010

Tags: Reds, Todd Frazier, Walt Jocketty