Clint Frazier Shows No Love For Media After Rough Game Vs. Blue Jays

New York Yankees fans undoubtedly missed injured outfielder Aaron Judge a little extra this past Sunday night.

While often Judge’s power behind the plate initially earns fan praise amid his jaw–dropping moonshot home runs, his glove’s absence hurt the team extensively as his replacement, Clint Frazier, essentially cost the Yankees a game. Although his right–field troubles left fans leaving the Bronx scratching their heads with confusion and frustration, Frazier’s response with his words and play the next day allow us to understand a potential New York star’s character to a further extent.

Frazier initially declined to discuss Sunday night’s game with the media, a game that included three run–allowing fielding mistakes where the Yankees fell 8–5. However, the reporters eventually found Frazier outside his locker, where Frazier released his alarming thoughts. Frazier opened up about his overall time while wearing pinstripes, illustrating how his disaster night only added to ongoing frustrations as he stated, “I know I don’t fit the mold of what some of the past and current Yankees are like, and that may be why it’s a little bit harder for me to navigate every day. I’m trying to be myself in here, and sometimes it feels like people have an issue with me being myself. It’s been difficult. It’s been hard.”

Frazier then elaborated further, mentioning his struggles throughout his journey as he concluded, “My entire life, I’ve always kind of been different. I’ve struggled to fit in because people perceive me a certain way. Whenever I was young, the only thing I felt that kept me relevant was baseball. Then in Cleveland, they were upset with me there. Then when I came over here, the magnitude of it is 10 times bigger. I’m just trying to fit in on this clubhouse and be myself. And it’s hard here. It’s hard to do that, but I want to be here, and I know I’ve got to stand and talk to the media. But [Sunday night] night was the most difficult game of my professional career in the outfield.”

Frazier later included a statement where he directly accused the media, referencing apparent false stories the media generated and distributed, much to Frazier’s displeasure. To Frazier’s credit, numerous tough breaks and difficulties flooded his early days as a Yankee, including last year’s season–ending concussion, which rubbed the New York media the wrong way, as multiple stories questioned Frazier’s concussion severity and his toughness. Frazier’s flashy personality, starting with his bright read hair and custom cleats, unfortunately gives the media another reason to scorn the young player, as a similar situation played out with another former New York star who drew personality criticisms with wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.

As a true New York star should, Frazier silenced the criticisms with his play the very next day. Despite a loss, Frazier rocked a two–run home run to left center against the Blue Jays Tuesday night. The ball traveled a monstrous 412 feet, as Frazier most likely took his recent frustrations out on the outside fastball.

Whether or not Frazier deserves the negative media surrounding him, the 24-year-old’s raw talent remains valuable amongst the Yankees roster despite their already loaded roster. However, learning to dodge the drama that comes alongside wearing pinstripes stands as an uncompleted, yet necessary task for the young Frazier to take on.