Todd Frazier got the start at third base for the Mets on Friday night and reached a personal milestone in his MLB career, recording his 1,000th major league hit.
Frazier, 33, extended his arms out on a 2-1 pitch to just get the bat on the ball enough for it to go over Jean Segura‘s head into left-center field, giving himself a single.
On the night, Frazier went 1-for-2 with a walk. He was actually responsible for starting two rallies in the game, getting on base to start the third and eighth innings. In the third, he scored on a Jeff McNeil RBI single. In the eighth, Sam Haggerty pinch-ran for Frazier after he walked and Haggerty scored on a Pete Alonso RBI single.
With a crowded infield/outfield situation now after Brandon Nimmo and Robinson Cano returned, Frazier’s playing time is one of the most in jeopardy with a reasonable, but not outstanding slash line of .235/.312/.420 to go along with 18 home runs and 59 RBI.
However, the team likes his defense at the hot corner where he has four defensive runs saved and a 1.0 UZR.
Since last Friday when the team was in Philadelphia, Frazier is 7-for-16 with two home runs, eight RBI, one double, three walks, and five runs scored.
That type of production going forward should keep him in the lineup most days if maintained given the fact that his defense at the hot corner is so strong. Even if he can’t maintain that, though, Frazier is a very useful piece as a pinch-hitter with power and a strong defensive replacement option late in games. So essentially, if Frazier hits, he’ll play.
Congrats to Todd Frazier on his accomplishment!
