White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier hit 35th home run on Friday. The home run put him in sole possession of the most home runs in a single season by a third baseman in team history.
Todd Frazier has had an interesting first season with the White Sox. Despite a low batting average at .215, the All-Star slugger has hit 35 home runs to go along with 86 RBI. His 35th home run hit on Friday against the Twins, was a record breaking home run.
Throughout the long history of the White Sox, there has never been a player to hit more than 34 home runs in a single season playing third base. Robin Ventura hit 34 home runs in 1996. 20 years later, with Ventura managing, Frazier broke the single-season team home run record for third baseman.
Frazier’s 35th home run was not only important to break a team record, it also tied the game. After trailing the Twins 3-1, Frazier hit a mammoth two-run home run to center field at Target Field to tie game at 3-3.The White Sox offense would later rout the Twins in a 11-4 victory on Friday, breaking a four game losing streak on their current road trip.
For Frazier however, the team record breaking home run was initially met with silence from Ventura in the dugout. After the game, Ventura and Frazier exchanged hugs in congratulations for Frazier’s accomplishment.
Frazier’s accomplishment is even more impressive since it was completed in his first season with the White Sox. Despite sporting the lowest batting average of his career at this point, Frazier has the chance to hit 40 home runs this season. This would be a career high for him. Frazier’s 35 home runs currently are the most he’s hit in a season. In 2015, Frazier hit 35 home runs for the Reds. However, Frazier’s total home runs hit in second half in 2015 was 10.
Frazier’s home run splits for this season is similar to 2015. Frazier hit 25 home runs in the first half this season, and has hit 10 home runs in the second half. For Frazier, he has 28 games remaining to hit a new career high in home runs for a season. The White Sox certainly got what they expected out of Frazier when they traded for him last December.
Although his batting average isn’t near where it was last season for the Reds at .255, Frazier has continued to hit home runs. With another lost season for the team, it will be interesting to watch Frazier’s quest for 40 home runs. If he can achieve this feat, he will become the first player in team history hit 40 or more home runs in their first season since Jim Thome in 2006. That season, Thome hit 42 home runs. Without the team chasing for a postseason spot, at least Frazier can give fans another reason to keep watching in September.