Frazier falls triple shy of cycle in '20 debut

NEW YORK -- Clint Frazier promised that he was ready for an opportunity to shine at the big league level. Then the Yankees outfielder proved it, homering in his first at-bat as part of a three-hit performance in a 6-3 victory over the Braves on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.

Frazier belted a 410-foot homer in the second inning off Huascar Ynoa, going back-to-back with Gary Sánchez , then added a third-inning single and doubled in the fifth inning to finish a triple shy of the cycle.

"It felt good to get the first at-bat out of the way and be able to breathe," Frazier said. "I'm just glad that tonight was able to start with a bang. It felt good to get instant results. It's not going to be that easy every time I step to the plate."

With Giancarlo Stanton expected to be on the injured list for approximately three to four weeks due to a left hamstring strain, and Aaron Judge day to day with lower body stiffness, Yankees manager Aaron Boone envisions Frazier playing in the corner outfield spots and as a designated hitter option, especially against left-handed pitchers.

"That's a pretty good return, and I'm not surprised," Boone said. "I feel like he's been in a great place now for really all of this year. I'm excited to see him come up and really have an impact."

Frazier said that the setup at PNC Field, home of the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, allowed him to keep his skills sharp as he waited for a chance to face big league pitching.

"It feels kind of like Spring Training down there," Frazier said. "There's anywhere from five to six innings per day that you get to play against some of the pitchers down there. They're doing everything they can to make it as realistic as it can be, but it's going to be nice to play my first game."

Since making his big league debut in 2017, Frazier has a .259/.312/.476 slash line with 17 homers and 57 RBIs in 124 games for the Yankees. He was among the team's better offensive performers in the first half last year, posting a .267/.317/.489 slash line with 12 homers and 38 RBIs in 69 games overall.

"I've been faced with a lot of situations, whether it was warranted or unwarranted," Frazier said. "I just wanted to show up to Spring Training this year and only give people one thing to talk about, and that was my performance. There's a lot of stuff that comes with being a New York Yankee. Unfortunately, I found out the way to become a distraction in some areas. I'm just here to try to find my role."

On the road again
As Aroldis Chapman continues his rehab at the Yankees' alternate training site, the flame-throwing closer offered a Zoom update on his progress from the passenger seat of one of his sports cars, rolling on a highway somewhere between New York City and Pennsylvania.

"I feel really good," Chapman said through an interpreter. "Understanding the time that I've had without facing hitters, playing catch and doing the regular routine, [Tuesday] for the first time actually felt better than expected, just being on the mound and pitching to live hitters and also the recovery following that."

Chapman is scheduled to throw to hitters again on Friday and then could be activated. Pitching coach Matt Blake said that Chapman's fastball velocity was clocked between 96 and 99 mph on Tuesday.

Having opened the year on the COVID-19 injured list after testing positive early in Summer Camp, Chapman said that he experienced only mild symptoms, losing his senses of smell and taste. Thus, he was able to continue working out in his Manhattan apartment.

"Luckily, I felt good throughout the whole time," Chapman said. "I had to get creative. I had to purchase some equipment and move some stuff around the apartment to try to get as close as I could to my regular workout routine. One of the things that helped me out was a pitching sock that you can use to simulate throwing a baseball. You've just got to find ways to get the work in and not lose too much of the rhythm."

Up next
Following an off-day on Thursday, the Yankees will open a four-game series against the Red Sox on Friday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Gerrit Cole (3-0, 3.22 ERA) is expected to draw the start for New York, seeking to remain undefeated in pinstripes. The ace took a no-decision against the Rays in his last start, striking out 10 over 4 2/3 innings in an 8-4 Yanks win.