How Clint Frazier’s maturity is impressing Yankees

Yankees manager Aaron Boone cited the way Clint Frazier has handled repeated minor-league demotions …

NEW YORK — Clint Frazier was slated to be in the Yankees‘ lineup on Tuesday night, hitting ninth and playing left field.

Who knows how long he’ll stay.

That’s been the story all season for the highly regarded slugger, who has mashed at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre while waiting for an extended chance at the big-league level.

The Yankees called Frazier up Monday, demoting infielder Ronald Torreyes, with regular left fielder Brett Gardner‘s sore right knee still a problem. It’s kept Gardner out of the lineup since Sunday.

Gardner and manager Aaron Boone each said they hoped Gardner would be back Wednesday.

Yankees prospect watch

Until Gardner’s return, the 23-year-old Frazier will continue to get looks. So far, he’s made the most of them.

Going in to Tuesday’s game, Frazier had three hits in eight at-bats (.375 BA) including a double and an RBI in four games in the majors. Monday’s call-up was his third of the season.

At Triple-A, Frazier has hit .302 with eight homers, 12 RBI and a .937 OPS in 42 games.

On Tuesday, Boone was asked what he’d tell Frazier about dealing with going up and going down.

“Go be yourself,” Boone said. “He’s here because he’s really talented and he continues to earn this opportunity. The thing I’ve liked about Clint and have been excited about is the couple little glimpses we’ve gotten to see of him up here this year, he’s represented well, he’s had good at-bats.”

Boone cited Frazier’s maturity in handling the disappointment of going back to the minors.

“And when I’ve sent him back down, one of the conversations I’ve had with him, both times I sent him back, is, ‘Keep on working, keep on getting better, taking your craft seriously every day,'” Boone said.

“Working every single day on getting better and I think he’s done a really good job of that. He’s gone back down each time and played really well and produced and all the reports are what you want to hear. So it’s not a player going down there and frustrating and sulking and that kind of stuff. That gets me excited. And even (Monday) night, when he pinch hits, he goes up there on the hunt and takes a good rip on the first pitch on a good pitch to hit. A lot of times you’ll see a guy go up there and take a pitch. No, he’s on the attack, boom, fouls a pitch back … excited to see him get in there and expecting him to be one of the guys to produce now.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.