TOMS RIVER, N.J. – Rutgers junior All-American shortstop Todd Frazier (Toms River, N.J.) was selected by the Cincinnati Reds with the 34th overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft on Thursday.
Frazier was selected in the supplemental portion of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft's first round, just four picks out of the first round. He is the highest Scarlet Knight selected in the draft since pitcher Bobby Brownlie was picked 21st overall by the Chicago Cubs in the 2002 draft.
Frazier was the second pick by the Reds in the draft, following the club' first-round selection of Punxsutawney High School catcher Devin Mesoraco.
"This is a great moment for myself and my friends and family," Frazier said after learning of his selection. "Just seeing the 34th pick come up on the computer with my name and having everyone here excited for me was a great feeling. It's something I will never forget. My family has always been huge baseball fans and my brothers and I have played the game from a young age. It is what I love to do and I can't wait to continue the tradition at the professional level."
"I am extremely proud for Todd and his family," said Rutgers head coach Fred Hill. "He is a tremendous athlete who possesses all five tools. Todd is one of many guys on our team who have the talent to play at the next level. He is a great person both on and off the field."
Frazier, a quarterfinalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, recognizing the National Player of the Year, was recently named a First Team All-American by both Collegiate Baseball and Rivals.com. The shortstop painted himself throughout the Rutgers record book in 2007, finishing in the top-6 in every single-season offensive category, excluding triples. He broke the Rutgers single-season record for home runs (22), home runs by a leadoff hitter (22), runs scored (87), walks (62), doubles (24) and total bases (187), all set this season. He also finished second in slugging percentage (.757), second in at bats (247), tied for third in runs batted in (65), fifth in hits (93), and tied for sixth in stolen bases (25).
Frazier has also placed himself on several Rutgers career record charts through just three seasons. He is the Scarlet Knights' all-time leader in home runs (42) and runs scored (210), and is second in walks (138) and total bases (434), and third in hits (241), slugging percentage (.625) and stolen bases (65), and fifth in runs batted in (152).
Frazier, who played with the USA Baseball National Team last summer and starred on the Toms River East American Team that won the 1998 Little League World Series title, was named the BIG EAST Player of the Year at the conclusion of the regular season. He finished the season ranked among the BIG EAST leaders in virtually every offensive category and was fourth in the nation in home runs (22), fourth in runs per game (1.38), eighth in walks per game (0.98) and 11th in home run per game (0.35).
Todd is one of three Frazier children to be selected in the Major League Baseball Draft. His brother, Charlie, was picked by the Florida Marlins in the 1999 draft and his brother, Jeff, was selected in the third round by the Detroit Tigers in 2004. Jeff was traded to the Seattle Mariners prior to this season and is with the team's AA affiliate West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.
