Clint Frazier's Night to Remember Was Years in the Making

Since coming over to the Yankees from the Indians in the Andrew Miller trade in 2016, Frazier's tenure in pinstripes has been chock-full of tough moments. 

Once a top-rated prospect, the outfielder was constantly relegated to a supporting role thanks to injuries and avenues to playing time cordoned off by star-studded teammates. It took four years since his big-league debut for Frazier to earn a full-time gig in the Yankees' outfield, a journey that came to an end earlier this spring when he was named the starting left fielder.

As Frazier alluded to, though, this season has featured its fair share of turbulence as well. After a brief four-game hitting streak to start the year, the 26-year-old went on to hit .103 (9-for-87) over his next 30 games. It was the kind of stretch that put his playing time in serious jeopardy.

One game won't wipe away those season-long struggles at the dish by any means. It's what went into Frazier's heroic performance on Tuesday night, however, that shows why the organization has faith in the outfielder to produce at a high level for years to come.

Following back-to-back innings with run-scoring opportunities squandered, the crowd at Yankee Stadium was as loud as it had been all night when it was Frazier's turn in the bottom of the 11th. 

Drowning out the noise, the outfielder was able to stick to his plan and stay within himself. 

"You see a lot of guys go up there and swing really hard and and the crowd oohs and ahhs because they think that a home run is coming," Frazier said. "I was just trying to stick within myself. I had a plan and an approach because Kittredge is really good. And obviously, things went my way."

That approach for Frazier was to hit the ball the other way, letting pitches travel a little bit deeper so he can make sure to stay inside the baseball. He didn't end up hitting the ball to the opposite field, but he stayed within that approach, allowing him to connect on some solid contact. 

There have been plenty of at-bats this season where Frazier has looked befuddled at the plate, falling behind from hearty cuts, trying to do too much. He could've reverted into that same trap in that situation in the 11th, a chance to win it for his team that's been scuffling of late. 

That's the sign of a mature hitter. Frazier's six-pitch walk with multiple close takes in the bottom of the ninth falls into the same category. Rather than chasing out of the zone to try and win the game with one swing, the outfielder extended the inning and got on base.

Frazier's growth as a defender also came up the clutch for New York on Tuesday. In the eighth, with two runners on, Joey Wendle skied a fly ball to shallow right field. If the ball touched the outfield grass, with Austin Meadows barreling home from second, Tampa Bay would've jumped in front.

Instead, Frazier tracked it down, making up for a late jump by laying out and grabbing it inches off the ground while completely horizontal. 

Years ago, when Frazier was struggling with his defense, odds are he doesn't make that catch. After countless reps over these last few seasons, striving to distance himself from his reputation as a defensive liability, Frazier made one of the biggest catches of his career.

"I've really worked hard at my defense and tried to make it something that people can't talk about for the wrong reasons anymore," Frazier said. "I'm just glad that the ball was able to stick in my glove."

Before Tuesday night, Frazier had only hit one other walk-off home run in a Yankees uniform. That game-winner—his first home run at Yankee Stadium in his career—capped off just his sixth game in the big leagues.

That blast in July of 2017 looks almost identical to the game-winner Frazier hit nearly four years later. Frazier's stance looks similar, his trademark bat speed helped his barrel shoot through the zone and the ball soared toward the same part of the left-field seats.

They may look the same, but the outfielder that walked it off on Tuesday night is far different than the wide-eyed rookie that came up clutch four years ago. This time, Frazier dripped in swagger, coming up big for his team when they needed it most.

Beyond Frazier's recent surge in production—hitting .306 (11-for-36) in his last 11 games—and beyond his hard work to get to this point of his career, it's moments like these that show he belongs in pinstripes.

"It's a feeling that I'm sure that I won't forget just because of what we've been going through as a team, what I've been going through individually and we needed that win," Frazier said. "That one felt like it was written in the stars."