Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects 2023 Recap: Matt Fraizer Has Second Straight Poor Season at Double-A

Following a second consecutive poor season with the Double-A Altoona Curve, outfield prospect Matt Fraizer's future with the Pittsburgh Pirates is on life support

There was a time when outfielder Matt Fraizer looked like a budding star. Following his big 2021 season, Fraizer looked like a fast rising star in the Pittsburgh Pirates farm system. Since then, however, Fraizer has fallen on hard times.

During the 2021 season Fraizer appeared to be breaking out as a prospect in the Pirate farm system. In 499 plate appearances across 112 games played between High-A and Double-A, Fraizer hit for a .306/.388/.552 slash line with a .246 isolated slugging (ISO), 11.2% walk rate, 21.6% strikeout rate, and a 149 wRC+.

After Fraizer put together the sason he did in 2021 many people started to pencil him in as an outfielder of the future for the Pirates. This was understandable following the season he had. Well, things would not go as many started to plan.

Since his string 2021 season, Fraizer has been trending in the wrong direction.

Fraizer has spent the past two seasons with the Double-A Altoona Curve. With the Curve, Fraizer owns a .235/.305/.345 slash line with a .110 ISO, 80 wRC+, 8.1% walk rate, and a 22.6% strikeout rate. Obviously, this is a huge step back from what Fraizer did in 2021.

Looking ahead to 2024 it goes without saying that it is a huge season for Fraizer. Now 26-years-old, Fraizer is quickly approaching non-prospect territory. If Fraizer struggles again this season, there is a real chance that he will be released from the Pirate organization.