What’s Yankees’ Clint Frazier’s future with Brett Gardner back?

by Felix Pantaleón

Yankees manager Aaron Boone discussed the latest plan for outfielder Clint Frazier considering the return of Brett Gardner before Friday’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. (6/22/18)

TAMPA — For now, Clint Frazier stays.

For how long? That’s still a question.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone hinted that the young, fan-favorite outfielder would stick with the major-league club at least through the weekend before Friday’s game against the Rays vs. the Rays at Tropicana Field.

With Brett Gardner (sore right knee) finally healthy, it would appear at-bats could be scarce for Frazier.

Boone said the 23-year-old right-handed slugger could start Sunday when Tampa Bay puts lefty Blake Snell on the mound.

“He’s on the bench (Friday night),” Boone said, sitting in the visiting dugout. We get a lefty the last day. Maybe there’s a chance he plays that day game. He’s just an option off the bench for us right now. We’ll see. We’ll take it day by day and maybe there will be an opportunity late in the game for him (Friday night).”

Ellsbury: I’ll be back

Frazier has produced in his three call-ups.

He’s hitting .368 (7-for-19) with an RBI and two doubles. A regular left fielder at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Frazier started for the first time in the majors in center field on Thursday at Yankee Stadium, going 2-for-4 in a 4-3 win over the Mariners.

At Triple-A, Frazier — Baseball America’s No. 39 overall prospect going into 2017 — was hitting .302 with eight homers and 12 RBI in 42 games.

The Yankees are in somewhat of a difficult place with Frazier. They want him to continue to get regular at-bats to continue his progress, but also might need him as a bench option.

“And that’s something that we’ll constantly weight,” Boone said. “Are those at-bats available to him? Obviously, this time up he’s been able to get fairly regular at-bats. I envision him probably getting a game here in Tampa. W’ell just continue to kind of weigh that — how much is he able to provide us on a fairly regular basis? As compared to if and when does he need to go back and get those regular at-bats.”