The Long Island Ducks added to their roster for the 2nd day in a row with the re-signing of switch-hitting shortstop Vladimir Frias. A sure-handed 33-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Frias played 136 games for Long Island during the regular season and the playoffs. He provided consistent defense throughout 2019 and has shown no signs of missing a step in the field. However, last season did see a drop-off in Frias’ offensive numbers. His .241/.314/.358 slash line could be a source of concern for an offense that sat in the bottom half of the Atlantic League in both OBP and OPS.
Vladimir Frias’ drop in offensive production during 2019 is certainly something to consider when projecting his 2020 impact for the Ducks. That is not to say that a further decline in numbers should be expected. Frias bounced back with good numbers in August, September, and the playoffs. If Frias can bring his skilled defense with projected numbers along the lines of .255/.325/.370, he will sit in the middle of the pack in comparison to the rest of the shortstops in the league. However, Long Island may soon have to look beyond the 2019 roster if they want to gain the run production needed to repeat as champions.
Indy Ball Nation 