Frazier Named First Team All-American
May 30 | Baseball
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Rutgers junior shortstop Todd Frazier (Toms River. N.J.) was named a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American, Collegiate Baseball announced on Wednesday.
"I am extremely excited to be named a First Team All-American," Frazier said. "It is an honor to be on the same list as these players. This is something I will cherish for a lifetime. I want to thank my coaches and teammates for helping me get better everyday."
"I am very proud for Todd," Rutgers head coach Fred Hill said. "He has worked hard throughout his career. This is a tremendous accomplishment that Todd truly deserves. He helps us in so many ways. I am happy for him and his family. It is great to see Rutgers baseball represented on a national level."
Frazier becomes the sixth Rutgers player in the history of the program to earn First Team All-American honors and the first since current Scarlet Knight Director of Operations Darren Fenster earned First Team honors by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and ABCA in 2000. It is the second All-America honor for Frazier, who was also named a Freshman All-American in 2005 by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball.
A unanimous selection as the BIG EAST Player of the Year, Frazier backed up his accolades with a .520 batting average, including five doubles and two home runs to be named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament as Rutgers captured the league's tournament title.
Frazier, a semifinalist for two National Player of the Year awards, leads the BIG EAST in home runs (22), runs scored (83), slugging percentage (.762), walks (60), hits (89) and total bases (179) and ranks among the league leaders in virtually every other offensive category, including runs batted in (2nd, 64), on-base percentage (2nd, .505), batting average (3rd, .379) stolen bases (4th, 25) and doubles (T-4th, 20).
Nationally, the Scarlet Knight ranks fourth in the country in home runs and runs per game (1.38). He ranks eighth in home runs per game (0.37) and walks per game (1.0) and 10th in slugging percentage (.762).
Frazier was rated as the top professional prospect in the Northern Region by Baseball America in January. He broke the Rutgers single-season and career home run record against Notre Dame (4/28) with his 35th career blast and 15th of the season. He now has 22 on the year and 42 in his career. Frazier ranks among RU's all-time leaders in runs scored (1st, 206), walks (2nd, 136), total bases (2nd, 422), stolen bases (3rd, 65), hits (3rd, 237) and runs batted in (5th, 151). His season totals rank among the best in school history, including first in walks (60) and total bases (179), second in runs scored (83), tied for fourth in runs batted in (64) and tied for sixth in stolen bases (25). He has placed among the BIG EAST all-time leaders in BIG EAST games in home runs (T-10th, 18), walks (2nd, 68 one behind the all-time record), and runs scored (4th, 89).
Frazier has reached base safely in all but one of RU's 60 games this season, including 48-straight contests. He was named the BIG EAST and Collegiate Baseball Foundation National Player of the Week on April 9 after finishing a three-game series with Connecticut with 12 RBI, including two grand slams and a two-run, walk-off home run to complete the series sweep of the Huskies. RU's leadoff hitter, Frazier owns three grand slams on the season. He has started all 165 games in his career with the Scarlet Knights, owning a .341 career batting average.
Frazier was one of three members from last summer's USA Baseball National Team to be honored as a First Team All-American, joining Vanderbilt pitchers David Price and Casey Weathers.
Rutgers enters the NCAA Regionals with a 41-19 record, the second most single-season wins in school history. The Scarlet Knights, ranked No. 23 in the latest Baseball America Poll, earned the No. 2 seed in the Charlottesville Regional and will play third-seeded and defending National Champion Oregon State on Friday at 8 p.m. at Devanport Field on the campus of the University of Virginia.
