The new Jake Fraley thread

[Mitri]

This is a new Jake Fraley thread. I’m not sure there was an old one.

I didn’t like the look of his game but I have been wrong. He has been on absolute fire since returning from the IL.

Is it real? A mirage? I haven’t really looked too deep into his statcast numbers- is there something that has changed?

[Tom Servo]

Matt Wilkes
@_MattWilkes

Highest OPS in baseball since July 30 (min. 40 PA):

1. Max Muncy (1.283)
2. Jeff McNeil (1.244)
3. Jake Fraley (1.232)
4. Aaron Judge (1.210)

He basically is hitting like the guy he was in the minors before the pandemic season of 2020, a polished blend of pop and OBP. Obviously way too early to say if he's about to go Justin Turner on us but one can dream. This seemed significant to me when he returned:

Fraley, who hit .210 in 78 games last season as a rookie with the Mariners, took on a new approach before he even began his recent rehab.

"I kind of sat down and really took a step back and really tried to realize, ‘What can I do to help Jake Fraley the baseball player come out on the other side of this?’ I was feeling like I got knocked down a ton and feeling like I didn’t know if I could get back up right now," said Fraley. "I went out and hired a mental psychiatrist, mental skills guy, whatever you want to call it. I thought it was a little crazy at first, like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ But it actually ended up being some of the best money I’ve invested in myself.

"And it really helped me to come out on the other side of this . . . I’m the best baseball-player version of Jake Fraley that I’ve ever been in my entire life. And that’s before even playing on the rehab assignment or even playing a game here back up in the big leagues. I feel very confident in saying that and I believe it.”

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/spo...y/10186125002/

[RedTeamGo!]

He was playing hurt early in the season so almost everyone jumped ship. He’s healthy and confident now. Might end up being the best piece of the Winker return, although I have high hopes for Phillips and I haven’t given up on Williamson like most have.

[Mitri]

It's nice to see him talking about himself in the third person. That's usually a good sign for baseball players.

[westofyou]

Apparently he was having some other non physical issues that he’s dealt with and is in a good space

[CaribbeanRed]

Fraley is Wally Pipping Senzel in CF

[Mitri]

Fraley is Wally Pipping Senzel in CF

We can only hope. This thought will help me sleep a little better tonight.

[RedTeamGo!]

Fraley is Wally Pipping Senzel in CF

I WISH Senzel was as good as Pipp

[Alpha Zero]

If he keeps putting up solid numbers through the end of the season, he can have one of the corner OF spots heading into 2023. Get Benintendi to man the other corner spot and see how it goes.

[CaribbeanRed]

If he keeps putting up solid numbers through the end of the season, he can have one of the corner OF spots heading into 2023. Get Benintendi to man the other corner spot and see how it goes.

I thought most have high marks for Fraley in CF?

[Alpha Zero]

I thought most have high marks for Fraley in CF?

Fraley has played mostly the corners this year, so I figured the Reds don’t have much faith in him sticking in CF. But maybe that has had more to do with the presence of Senzel and giving him a legitimate shot to establish himself there than their confidence in Fraley’s ability to handle the position. If he can stick in CF, that’s obviously preferred. Easier to find or trade for a bat that can man a corner spot than a CF.

[malcontent]

The Reds need to ask him for the number of his psychiatrist.

[JCM11]

I think the Reds should slot Fraley into Winker's old spot which is LF who gets most of his playing time vs RHP. Last year he had an .815 OPS vs RHP and so far in 2022 it's at .865. I'd get a better defender for CF, and find a RF who can put up big power numbers. Fraley is the only current Reds OF I'd care to see on next years team. Maybe Almora can stick around as a 5th OF depth piece.

[HokieRed]

Pretty clearly Fraley can provide a good left handed half of a corner platoon next year. That gives us one outfielder of the five we will need.

[Kc61]

My plan for OF next year would be:

1. Fraley in platoon for one corner. He seems best in LF, but if necessary can be in RF.

2. Aquino replaced by RHH in that Fraley platoon. Reds need lefty masher in that spot.

3. FA signing of Benintendi or Conforto in other corner. Or another LH hitting full time player.

4. For now, keep combo of Senzel and Almore in CF. Eventually replace by a prospect, probably a current shortstop prospect, DeLaCruz, Marte, McClain, etc.

5. Fifth OF give Friedl another shot based on his excellent hitting at AAA late this season.