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MWL1 Dayton Dragons

Todd Frazier Among "20 Greatest Dragons"

March 4, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


Todd Frazier batting for the Dayton Dragons
Todd Frazier batting for the Dayton Dragons
(Dayton Dragons)

Dayton, Ohio - The Dayton Dragons today announced the next name on their list of "20 Greatest Dragons." The player recognition is part of the organization's 20th Season Celebration. Players selected on the list of 20 are being announced in random order leading up to the Dragons 20th Opening Night game on Thursday, April 4 against the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Next on the list of the 20 Greatest Dragons is:

Todd Frazier

Frazier first joined the Dragons late in the 2007 season after being drafted that June out of Rutgers University. He opened the 2008 season with the Dragons before receiving a mid-season promotion. Frazier was drafted as a shortstop and that was his primary position with the Dragons, though he began to make the transition to other positions late in his Dragons tenure, playing first base, third base, and left field on a limited basis. The Todd Frazier who played in Dayton had the same personality that later made him a huge fan favorite in Cincinnati. He was a friendly, talkative, energetic individual who made everyone he encountered feel like he had been their longtime friend. He also had a flair for the dramatic on the field. In just the second home game of the 2008 season, Frazier blasted a "walk-off" home run, one of only 19 ever hit at Fifth Third Field. Frazier hit .321 in 2008 with the Dragons, adding seven home runs and 20 RBI in 30 games.

Frazier made his debut with the Reds in 2011 and emerged as their third baseman in 2012 when he finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. He was a starter on back-to-back Reds playoff teams in 2012 and '13. In 2014, he made his first of two straight trips to the Major League All-Star Game. His most memorable moment with the Reds may have come in 2015, when he won the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game in Cincinnati, becoming the first Reds player since Dave Parker in 1985 to win the derby outright. Frazier is also one of only three Reds third basemen in franchise history to hit at least 20 home runs and collect at least 20 stolen bases in a season, joining Aaron Boone and Chris Sabo with that distinction.

Frazier finished fourth in the National League in home runs in both 2014-15 before connecting on a career-high 40 homers in 2016 after being traded to the White Sox. Frazier spent part of the 2017 season with the Yankees before signing a big free agent contract with the Mets prior to the 2018 season. To date, he has hit 193 career home runs in the big leagues, the fifth highest total of any former Dragon. Over a four-year period from 2014-17, Frazier averaged 33 home runs per season.

Frazier is the ninth former Dragon announced among the 20 Greatest Dragons. Austin Kearns, Zack Cozart, Justin Turner, Homer Bailey, Samone Peters, Devin Mesoraco, Didi Gregorius, and Tucker Barnhart were previously announced.

The 20 Greatest Dragons were selected based on a media vote of Dragons television, newspaper, radio, and internet reporters. Additionally, during the 2019 season, the Dragons will be conducting a fan vote featuring one player per position to announce their all-time greatest lineup.

The Dragons will host their "20th Season Celebration Game" on Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Field. The game will match the 2019 Dragons ("Team 20") against a team of Dragons alumni who are still playing in the Cincinnati Reds minor league system.

Individual game tickets for the Dragons 20th Season Celebration Game are available now. Go to daytondragons.com/celebrationgame or Ticketmaster.com.

Additional information on the Dragons 20th Season celebration including videos on the 20 Greatest Dragons, special 20th Season merchandise, and Dragons alumni listings is available here: https://www.milb.com/dayton/team/20.

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Todd Frazier batting for the Dayton Dragons
Todd Frazier batting for the Dayton Dragons
   



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