Jeff Frye
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Dustin Frye is an American former professional baseball
second baseman
. He played in Major League Baseball
with the Texas Rangers
, the Boston Red Sox
, Toronto Blue Jays
and the Colorado Rockies
for parts of 1992-2001. He is 5'9 and 165 lbs. and he bats and throws right-handed. He was born in Oakland
, California
.
Frye was drafted in the 30th round of the 1988 amateur draft
and made his big league debut with the Texas Rangers on July 9, 1992 at Arlington Stadium
during a 14-4 Rangers victory over the Cleveland Indians
. Frye went 2-for-3, including a triple, walk, RBI and three runs, as the starting second baseman and leadoff hitter. His first career home run came July 24, 1992 off of Baltimore Orioles
pitcher Arthur Rhodes
at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
. He missed the 1993 season due to injury.
In 1996, after hitting just .238 in 49 games with the Rangers' American Association
affiliate Oklahoma City 89ers, Frye was released. That same day, June 5, he was signed as a free agent with the Red Sox. He had a career year in 1997 when he hit .310 with 6 home runs in 127 games. He missed the entire 1998 season due to an injured left knee but returned for the 1999 season, playing in 47 games.
Frye became a bench player when the Red Sox signed second baseman Jose Offerman
prior to the 1999 season and, on July 27, 2000, was traded to the Colorado Rockies
with Brian Rose and John Wasdin
in exchange for Rolando Arrojo
, Rick Croushore and Mike Lansing
.
On December 11, 2000 he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays
. On August 3, 2001 at a game in the SkyDome, aphids were in the ballpark causing him to wear a mask on his face for the whole game.
He made history on August 17, 2001 when he became only the second Blue Jay
in history to hit for the cycle
. The only other Blue Jays player to hit for the cycle was Kelly Gruber
, who happened to be in attendance that day.
Frye's final big league appearance came September 20, 2001 as he pinch-hit for catcher Darrin Fletcher
in the 8th inning of a 12-6 loss to the Orioles. Frye flew out to left field and remained in the game at second base, replacing Homer Bush
defensively.
Retired, Frye now works as an agent and represents current MLB players, such as Ian Kinsler
.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
. He played in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
and the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
for parts of 1992-2001. He is 5'9 and 165 lbs. and he bats and throws right-handed. He was born in Oakland
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Frye was drafted in the 30th round of the 1988 amateur draft
1988 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.-Supplemental First Round Selections:-External links:*...
and made his big league debut with the Texas Rangers on July 9, 1992 at Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium
Arlington Stadium was a baseball stadium located in Arlington, Texas, United States, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. It served as the home for the Texas Rangers from 1972 until 1993, when the team moved into The Ballpark in Arlington .-1960s:The stadium was built in 1965 as Turnpike...
during a 14-4 Rangers victory over the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. Frye went 2-for-3, including a triple, walk, RBI and three runs, as the starting second baseman and leadoff hitter. His first career home run came July 24, 1992 off of Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
pitcher Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles...
at Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a Major League Baseball ballpark located in Baltimore, Maryland. Home field of the Baltimore Orioles, it is the first of the "retro" major league ballparks constructed during the 1990s and early 2000s, and remains one of the most highly praised. The park was...
. He missed the 1993 season due to injury.
In 1996, after hitting just .238 in 49 games with the Rangers' American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
affiliate Oklahoma City 89ers, Frye was released. That same day, June 5, he was signed as a free agent with the Red Sox. He had a career year in 1997 when he hit .310 with 6 home runs in 127 games. He missed the entire 1998 season due to an injured left knee but returned for the 1999 season, playing in 47 games.
Frye became a bench player when the Red Sox signed second baseman Jose Offerman
José Offerman
José Antonio Offerman Dono is a former professional baseball player who played professional baseball for nearly 20 years...
prior to the 1999 season and, on July 27, 2000, was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
with Brian Rose and John Wasdin
John Wasdin
John Truman Wasdin is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball. He was born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia and raised in Tallahassee, Florida....
in exchange for Rolando Arrojo
Rolando Arrojo
Luis Rolando Arrojo Avila was a Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched from to .Arrojo made his mark with the teams from Villa Clara in the Cuban National Series, where he still is the all-time leader in hit batsmen. He was the staff ace on the Villa Clara team that won 3 consecutive Cuban...
, Rick Croushore and Mike Lansing
Mike Lansing
Michael Thomas Lansing is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Montreal Expos, Colorado Rockies, and the Boston Red Sox between 1993 and 2001...
.
On December 11, 2000 he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. On August 3, 2001 at a game in the SkyDome, aphids were in the ballpark causing him to wear a mask on his face for the whole game.
He made history on August 17, 2001 when he became only the second Blue Jay
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in history to hit for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
. The only other Blue Jays player to hit for the cycle was Kelly Gruber
Kelly Gruber
Kelly Wayne Gruber is a former Major League Baseball third baseman.-Early career:Gruber played baseball at Westlake High School in Austin, Texas where his number was later retired. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round of the 1980 amateur draft but did not see time with the team...
, who happened to be in attendance that day.
Frye's final big league appearance came September 20, 2001 as he pinch-hit for catcher Darrin Fletcher
Darrin Fletcher
Darrin Glen Fletcher is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from to .Fletcher made his major league debut in 1989 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and appeared in 5 games. He saw limited major league playing time the following season...
in the 8th inning of a 12-6 loss to the Orioles. Frye flew out to left field and remained in the game at second base, replacing Homer Bush
Homer Bush
Homer Giles Bush is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Florida Marlins. He was a part of the Yankees 1998 World Championship....
defensively.
Retired, Frye now works as an agent and represents current MLB players, such as Ian Kinsler
Ian Kinsler
Ian Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
.