Kevin Frandsen

2013

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2012

Frandsen signed a minor league contract with the Phillies this offseason which included an invitation to spring training. He spent last year in the minors, but also missed 50 games after being suspended for testing positive for ritalinic acid. He has a shot at earning a bench job this spring if he can beat out Michael Martinez.

2011

Frandsen filled in for the Angels last season when several infielders went down with injuries, but he hit just .250/.294/.319 in 160 at-bats. The Angels decided not to tender Frandsen a contract after the season, making him a free agent. Frandsen will wind up in spring training somewhere, but expect him to begin next season in the minors.

2010

Returning from a lost 2008 season thanks to a torn Achilles' tendon, Frandsen failed miserably in his attempt to win the Giants' second-base job last year, hitting just .140 over 50 at-bats. His performance in Triple-A wasn't overwhelming either (.791 OPS), and at age 27 with San Francisco locking up its middle-infield situation, Frandsen is more likely to spend additional time in the minors than he is with the Giants in 2010.

2009

Frandsen tore his Achilles' tendon during spring training last year, limiting him to just one at-bat during the season's final game. He has solid plate discipline but lacks power and speed. The Giants do like him, but Frandsen will enter 2009 battling Emmanuel Burriss and Eugenio Velez for the starting job at second base. He's likely to be a bench player.

2008

Frandsen got an extended look at second base over the final month last season and he responded well at the plate with a .370/.427/.479 line in 73 September at-bats. However, he has just a .683 OPS in 357 career at-bats and lacks both speed and power. With the Giants eager to get someone to take Ray Durham's contract off their hands, it's possible the team enters 2008 with Frandsen as the starting second baseman. It’s also possible he's relegated to a utility role if Durham remains in a San Francisco uniform. Either way, Frandsen projects as a below average regular, and he won't hit many home runs or steal many bases even if given the starting gig.

2007

Frandsen hit just .215/.284/.323 in 93 at-bats last season, which was at least partially due to playing through a fractured jaw. Still, he looked like San Francisco's starting second baseman this year until Ray Durham was re-signed, relegating him to a utility role. He still might be the team's future at the position and tore up the AFL during the offseason, leading the loop in on-base percentage (.480), finishing second in batting (.388) and third in slugging percentage (.588). There should be plenty of opportunities next year with such an aging San Francisco infield, but Frandsen enters the season as a backup.