Adam Frazier
Adam Timothy Frazier (born December 14, 1991) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB).[1][2] Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing 190 pounds, Frazier bats left-handed and throws right-handed, known for his versatility across infield and outfield positions, solid contact hitting, and speed on the bases.[3] Over his ten-season MLB career through 2025, he has compiled a .264 batting average, 67 home runs, 383 runs batted in, and 63 stolen bases in 1,200 games.[2] Frazier grew up in Bishop, Georgia, and attended Mississippi State University, where he played college baseball as a standout shortstop, earning All-America honors and helping the Bulldogs reach the 2013 College World Series.[4] In 2013, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the sixth round (179th overall) of the MLB Draft, and he progressed through their minor league system, debuting in the majors with Pittsburgh on June 24, 2016.[1] His early Pirates tenure featured steady utility play, but he broke out in 2021 with a .305 average, 19 stolen bases, and selection to his first All-Star Game, prompting a midseason trade to the San Diego Padres in July of that year.[2][3] Following his All-Star campaign, Frazier signed a one-year, $8 million contract with the Seattle Mariners in 2022, where he hit .238 in 156 games before moving to the Baltimore Orioles for the 2023 season on a one-year deal, posting a .240 average.[3] He joined the Royals in 2024 on a one-year, $4.5 million pact, contributing as a platoon player with a .202 average and 4 home runs.[5] In 2025, Frazier returned to the Pirates on a one-year, $1.525 million contract but was traded back to Kansas City on July 16 for infielder Cam Devanney, where he has since batted .267 with 7 home runs and 44 RBIs through the season's end.[6][5] His career highlights include representing the United States in international competition, earning a silver medal at the 2015 WBSC Premier12 tournament.[7]Early life and amateur career
Early life
Adam Frazier was born on December 14, 1991, in Athens, Georgia.[1] He is the son of Tim and Danielle Frazier, residents of Bishop, Georgia.[4] Frazier grew up in Bishop, Georgia, attending school in nearby Watkinsville in Oconee County, where he spent his early years before pursuing higher education.[8] He has at least one brother.[9] Frazier's formative years in the small community of Watkinsville, with a population of around 2,000, provided a close-knit environment typical of rural Georgia.[10] While specific details on his early interests outside of sports are limited, his family's support laid the foundation for his later athletic pursuits.High school career
Adam Frazier attended Oconee County High School in Watkinsville, Georgia, where he emerged as a standout athlete.[2] In baseball, he served as a four-year starting middle infielder for the Oconee County Warriors, earning honorable mention honors as a Louisville Slugger High School All-American.[4] Over his career, Frazier set a Georgia state record with 53 doubles, showcasing his gap power and consistency at the plate.[11] In his senior season of 2010, he batted .524, leading his team while amassing 66 hits.[12][13] Despite his impressive statistics, Frazier's smaller stature—listed at 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds—deterred professional scouts, resulting in no MLB Draft selection out of high school.[12] He instead committed to Mississippi State University, where he continued his development as a college recruit.[14] Frazier graduated from Oconee County High School in 2010.[14]College career
Adam Frazier enrolled at Mississippi State University in 2010 and played college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs as an infielder from 2011 to 2013.[1] During his collegiate career, Frazier established himself as a consistent contact hitter and defensive standout at shortstop, compiling a .348 batting average over 173 games with 224 hits, 36 doubles, and 8 triples while scoring 117 runs.[4] His sophomore season in 2012 was particularly notable, as he hit .371 with 91 hits and 16 doubles, setting a Mississippi State single-season record with 227 assists.[15] As a junior in 2013, he batted .352 with 107 hits, 20 doubles, and 7 triples while maintaining strong defensive play.[1] Frazier earned Southeastern Conference (SEC) recognition early in his career, receiving Freshman All-SEC honors in 2011 after hitting .269 in limited action.[16] In 2012, he was named MVP of the SEC Baseball Tournament, where he hit .425 over the event, and earned All-Tournament Team honors for both the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Starkville Regional.[4] The following year, he was selected to the 2013 All-SEC Defensive Team and named a semifinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, recognizing the nation's top college shortstop.[17][18] As the Bulldogs' leadoff hitter in his final two seasons, Frazier played a pivotal role in the team's postseason runs, helping Mississippi State win the 2012 SEC Tournament championship and advance to the NCAA Tournament each year from 2012 to 2013, including a Super Regional appearance against Virginia in 2013.[19][20] His speed and on-base skills, evidenced by 20 stolen bases across his career, complemented the team's offensive efforts during these successful campaigns.[4]Professional career
Minor leagues (2013–2015)
Adam Frazier was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth round, 179th overall, of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft out of Mississippi State University.[1] He signed with the organization shortly thereafter and began his professional career that summer with the Jamestown Jammers of the Short-Season A New York-Penn League, where he posted a .321 batting average over 58 games, recording 72 hits, 27 RBI, and five stolen bases while primarily playing shortstop.[21] His strong debut earned him a selection to the New York-Penn League mid-season All-Star team, highlighting his contact-oriented approach and defensive skills at the position.[1] In 2014, Frazier advanced to the High-A Bradenton Marauders of the Florida State League, where he adapted to a full-season schedule, appearing in 121 games and batting .252 with 124 hits, 21 doubles, 42 RBI, and 14 stolen bases.[21] Despite a dip in average from his rookie year, he demonstrated versatility by transitioning more toward second base and led all Florida State League shortstops in double plays turned with 84, underscoring his defensive reliability.[1] This performance solidified his progression through the Pirates' system, earning him a promotion to Double-A for the following season. Frazier spent the entire 2015 campaign with the Altoona Curve of the Eastern League, batting .324 in 103 games with 122 hits, including 21 doubles, four triples, two home runs, and 30 RBI, while stealing 11 bases and maintaining a low strikeout rate.[21] His breakout year at the higher level, marked by improved plate discipline and on-base percentage of .384, led to his selection as an Eastern League All-Star and MiLB.com Pittsburgh Pirates Organization All-Star.[22] Across his first three minor league seasons, Frazier compiled a .291 batting average in 282 games, reflecting steady development as a contact hitter with speed and infield versatility.[21]Pittsburgh Pirates (2016–2021)
Adam Frazier made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 24, 2016, entering as a defensive replacement at second base during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[7] Following a strong season in Triple-A Indianapolis where he batted .305, he filled an initial utility infielder role, appearing in 66 games across second base and the outfield while posting a .301 batting average with 2 home runs and 11 RBIs. His contact-oriented approach and versatility helped him secure a spot on the 25-man roster as a super-utility player early in his Pirates tenure.[1] In 2017, Frazier's role expanded to 121 games, primarily at second base and in the outfield, where he batted .276 with 6 home runs, 53 RBIs, and 9 stolen bases, contributing to the Pirates' infield stability.[2] By 2018, he transitioned to the everyday second baseman, starting 102 games at the position and slashing .277/.347/.422 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs over 113 appearances, solidifying his defensive reliability with a .983 fielding percentage.[2] Frazier reached career highs in 2019, playing a Pirates-leading 152 games while batting .278 with 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases; defensively, he turned a team-high 78 double plays at second base, ranking among National League leaders in that category.[2] The shortened 2020 season limited him to 58 games, but he adapted to a platoon role between second base and left field, hitting .230 with 7 home runs and 23 RBIs despite the challenges of the pandemic-impacted year.[2] Frazier's performance peaked in 2021, when he was selected as the National League's starting second baseman for the All-Star Game after finishing second in fan voting during Phase 1.[23] Through 98 games with Pittsburgh that season, he batted .324 with 4 home runs, 32 RBIs, and 5 stolen bases, leading the team in hits (109) and providing consistent on-base production with a .388 on-base percentage.[2] Over his full tenure with the Pirates from 2016 to 2021, Frazier appeared in 608 games, batting .272 with 39 home runs, 204 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases while establishing himself as a steady, contact-hitting infielder with strong defensive metrics at second base, including a career .982 fielding percentage and 240 double plays turned during that span.[2]| Year | Games | Batting Average | Home Runs | RBIs | Key Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 66 | .301 | 2 | 11 | MLB debut |
| 2017 | 121 | .276 | 6 | 53 | Expanded role |
| 2018 | 113 | .277 | 10 | 35 | Everyday 2B |
| 2019 | 152 | .278 | 10 | 50 | Career-high games |
| 2020 | 58 | .230 | 7 | 23 | Shortened season |
| 2021 | 98 | .324 | 4 | 32 | All-Star selection |