The top five leaders on the 2020 New York Yankees in wins above replacement (WAR) were DJ LeMahieu (2.9), Gerrit Cole (2.2), Gio Urshela (1.9), Clint Frazier (1.5) and Luke Voit (1.5). Each player entered the year with high expectations and finished with impressive performances during the pandemic-shortened season, and here now we’ll take a look at some of their standout 2020 accomplishments.
Clint Frazier might only be 26 years old, but the hard-hitting outfielder showed off tenacity and competitiveness well beyond his years as he played his way into an everyday role for the Yankees in 2020.
After injuries and defensive question marks hounded the young Georgia native early on in his big-league career, this past season was Clint’s official breakout party. The former Cleveland prospect slashed an impressive .267/.394/.511 with eight homers, 26 RBI and 24 runs scored across 39 games, and demonstrated just how far he’s come in the outfield night in and night out.
In his season debut, Frazier went 3-for-4 and knocked down the door in style with a 410-foot home run in his first at-bat of the season against the Braves.
“I feel like I’m a little more advanced in some areas, and I’m just glad that tonight was able to start with a bang,” Frazier said after the game. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about how I want to approach things and obviously try to capitalize whenever I do.”
After spending some time at the Yankees alternate site at the start of 2020, Frazier went on to reach base safely in 34 of the 39 games he played, adding onto that a .310 batting average with runners in scoring position.
One of the most visible adjustments Frazier made coming into the season was with his front leg in the batter’s box.
Frazier explained what led to that change and how it helps keep his swing where it needs to be, saying, “For me, it helps keep me on my back side and takes away the thought of doing the coil before I swing and lets me go up there and wait for the pitch I want to swing at.”
While it may appear uncomfortable or unorthodox at first glance, “sometimes you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Frazier explained.
Clearly the tweak paid off for Clint, who posted career-highs in on-base percentage (.394), slugging percentage (.511), OPS+ (149) and WAR (1.5).
When it came to the postseason, Frazier went 2-for-7 across four appearances this year, belting his first career playoff hit 418 feet over the fence against former Rays Cy Young winner Blake Snell in ALDS Game 1.
“To have my first postseason hit of my career be a home run in that moment was special for me and special for the team,” Frazier said after the game. “I feel like I blacked out running around the bases.”
Moving forward, Frazier is now in prime position to seize an everyday role for the Yankees, and manager Aaron Boone confirmed that he’s “earned a significant role on this team.”
“Clint's earned his way into our lineup on a regular basis and he continues to play extremely well for us on both sides of the ball," Boone said earlier this season.
With Giancarlo Stanton locked into the designated hitter role and Frazier’s defense no longer a question mark in the outfield, fans might get to see that “legendary bat speed” in the lineup on a daily basis starting in 2021.