Former Major League Baseball prospect Clint Frazier, now 29 years old, has signed with the Charleston Dirty Birds in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Frazier was a first-round draft pick of the Cleveland Indians in the 2013 MLB Draft and was later traded to the New York Yankees in a blockbuster deal in 2016. He was considered a top prospect in both organizations and made his MLB debut with the Yankees in July 2017 at the age of 22. Frazier started off well but was plagued by injuries throughout his career, including a left oblique injury in 2017 and ongoing concussion symptoms in 2018 that ended his season in September.
Despite his injury setbacks, Frazier had his best MLB season in 2020, hitting .267 with 8 home runs and 26 RBIs in 39 games. However, his injury issues resurfaced in 2021 when he experienced dizziness during a game and was placed on the injured list for the remainder of the season. After hitting .239 with an OPS of .761 across his five years in New York, Frazier was designated for assignment at the end of the 2021 season. He then spent the next two seasons with the Chicago Cubs and White Sox, appearing in a total of 52 games and hitting just .197 with a .545 OPS in 2023.
As a free agent this offseason, Frazier decided to continue his baseball career in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, where he will have the opportunity to showcase his skills and potentially earn a return to the MLB. At just 29 years old, Frazier still has time to turn things around and make an impact in professional baseball. While his career has been marred by injuries, Frazier’s talent is undeniable, and a successful stint in the independent league could open doors for him to make a comeback at the highest level of the sport.
Frazier’s journey from highly touted prospect to struggling MLB player is a common narrative in professional sports, where injuries and setbacks can derail promising careers. His decision to join the Charleston Dirty Birds in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball reflects his determination to continue pursuing his passion for the game and prove that he still has what it takes to compete at a high level. Frazier’s resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity serve as inspiration for other athletes facing similar challenges and remind us that setbacks are opportunities for growth and redemption in the world of sports.
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball provides a platform for players like Frazier to showcase their talents and potentially earn a second chance in the MLB. With the opportunity to play against competitive opponents and under professional conditions, Frazier will have the chance to prove himself and catch the attention of scouts and teams looking for talent. As he embarks on this new chapter in his baseball career, Frazier will have the opportunity to rewrite his narrative and create a new path towards achieving his goals and dreams in the sport he loves.
