In 2021, outfielder Clint Frazier really struggled. After finishing with a 150 OPS+ during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he dipped to 76 the next season.
Frazier tried searching for solutions but thinks he might have made things worse. In only 19 games for the Cubs last season, his OPS+ rose only to 88.
Needing to find a team for 2023, Frazier signed with the Rangers and reunited with hitting coach Tim Hyers, whom he has known since playing high school ball in Georgia.
No, things didn’t work out for Frazier with the Rangers — he was released April 24 after playing 15 games with Triple-A Round Rock — but Hyers might have made a lasting impact.
‘‘I definitely realized I don’t know as much about baseball as I thought that I did, which is why Tim Hyers was such a great asset for me,’’ Frazier said. ‘‘The pillars of hitting, the important things in my swing to focus on . . . he got me in a good place, and that place led to me being here in Chicago.’’
Frazier joined the White Sox when his contract was selected Sunday from Triple-A Charlotte, with outfielder Jake Marisnick being designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Once a top prospect with Cleveland and the Yankees, Frazier was hitting .375 with seven home runs and a 1.317 OPS in 16 games with Charlotte.
In his first game with the Sox, Frazier went 1-for-3 and scored a run against the Royals.
An odd injury
Shortstop Tim Anderson was supposed to get a full day off but had to replace second baseman Hanser Alberto in the lineup after Alberto hurt his left arm trying to beat out a bunt in the fifth inning. He might’ve gotten injured gesturing that he was safe.
‘‘He laid down a perfect bunt, he’s running down the line and he just waved his hands safe and felt his shoulder kind of [pop] in and out, but he’s good,’’ manager Pedro Grifol said. ‘‘He’s day-to-day, and his strength was good. It was actually really good news.’’
Romy Gonzalez moved from short to second when Anderson entered.
The right man for the job?
Outfielder/designated hitter Eloy Jimenez (appendectomy) will need a rehab assignment before returning to the lineup, and part of his preparation will include defensive work to get him ready to play right field.
Jimenez won’t play there every game, but he’ll be in the mix, allowing DH Jake Burger and third baseman Yoan Moncada to stay in the lineup at the same time.
‘‘It’s not like before, ‘We need the bat, get in the lineup,’ ’’ Grifol said. ‘‘We need him to play some right field, as well. So it might take a couple of days extra, just because we’ve got to get right field working, as well, and the legs and everything.’’
Staying hot
Two of the Sox’ best players in May have been center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and reliever Joe Kelly. Both kept that going Sunday.
Robert’s home run in the fourth was his 13th of the season and eighth of May. Kelly picked up his first save with a perfect ninth and has retired 31 of the last 32 batters he has faced, with 16 coming on strikeouts.
WHITE SOX VS. GUARDIANS
Monday: TBD vs. Hunter Gaddis (0-1, 6.86 ERA), 5:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM.
Tuesday: Dylan Cease (2-3, 4.78) vs. Logan Allen (1-1, 3.04), 5:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM.
Wednesday: Michael Kopech (2-4, 4.83) vs. Cal Quantrill (2-2, 4.06), 12:10 p.m., NBCSCH, 1000-AM.
