Reid Fronk6'1'' 185 lbs DOB: 7/21/86
Outfielder
Bats: Left | Throws: Right
2008: Columbus
Acquired: 2007 Draft, Round 7, 215th overall
Fronk helped lead the North Carolina Tar Heels to the College World Series in 2007, and followed that up with an impressive pro debut with Hudson Valley. The Rays promoted him to full-season ball in 2008, and Fronk did pretty much everything you could want from a ballplayer.
He hit for a solid average, .287, and complemented that with 74 walks in 124 games, giving him an on-base percentage a shade under .400. He hit for pretty good power, slugging 17 home runs and knocking 29 doubles. His OBP/SLG(.398/.492) were both tops on the Catfish. As if that weren't enough, Fronk also swiped 18 bases. Of course, all those stats come with the giant caveat that he was 22 in low-A by the end of the season, so he should be putting up those kind of numbers.
Fronk has always been more production than tools, which is fine as long as he maintains the production. He's average or a tick above across the board, and doesn't stand out in one particular area. The Rays will continue to move him along; he'll start in Port Charlotte and have a chance at a mid-season call-up to Montgomery. He'll still be a little bit old for his league in 2009, but if he can continue that production into AA, then it's time to consider Fronk a potential starter down the line.
As it stands now, that's his ceiling: Average major league outfielder, which isn't a bad thing. The worst case for Fronk is that his lack of good tools and age relative to league catch up with him, and he can't produce at the upper levels. The middle-of-the-road projection would be not unlike the role Justin Ruggiano fills now: riding the shuttle between AAA and the majors, being there in case of injuries, possibly a 5th outfielder.
Reid Fronk plays the game the way it's supposed to be played. Excellent teammate and leader and a pleasure for any coach.
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