Aggressive Todd Frazier breaks two bats in live batting practice

Share

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Todd Frazier’s aggressive nature kicked in during live batting practice on Wednesday and resulted in a pair of broken bats.

While many position players choose to use early sessions against their pitching teammates as an opportunity to watch lives pitches and track them, some prefer the grip-it-and-rip-it method. The team’s new third baseman said he likes a mixture of both. While a pair of swings led to two pieces of splintered lumber, Frazier said he couldn’t help but swing after he saw a few pitches he liked.

“That’s part of the game,” Frazier said. “I want to see where I’m at. I took a couple, but if it’s around the plate, that’s my aggressive nature. A lot of the guys do track. It’s just whoever you are, the kind of guy you are. You want to see the pitches, I want to see them, but I want to see how I’m doing it when I’m swinging as well.”

As a player, White Sox manager Robin Ventura said he was more selective in the sessions that normally occupy four straight days, which gives both groups of pitches two chances each to throw off a mound with a batter standing at the plate. Many times, players opt to stand in with the bat on their shoulder and try to watch the pitches because they have seen live pitching since the end of the season. Ventura also noted some batters might not be as eager to face hard throwers like Nate Jones and Chris Sale on the first day or two.

“Everybody has a different way to go about it,” Ventura said. “Depends on who you’re facing, also. We don’t mind either one.

“You just want them to see it.”

[MORE: Jimmy Rollins praised by ex-Dodgers teammates]

Frazier feels like he has seen the ball well so far. The sessions have given him an opportunity to gauge where he is in his process. Broken bats aside, he’s pleased with his progress.

“I feel good, not on those on broken bats,” Frazier said. “(Phillippe) Aumont got me pretty good but I had two line drives, which I was happy about. Right now you’re just trying to square the ball up. If I do that once or twice every live outing, I’ll be better off. If I have to break two or three, which I’d have to use about 100 bats this year, that’s fine.

“Just square everything up, hit it hard, you get a better opportunity.”

Contact Us