Cincinnati Reds’ Brandon Phillips (4) celebrates with Reds’ Todd Frazier (21) after scoring on a … More
Todd Frazier wants youth baseball players to “squish the bug” in a couple of different ways.
For one, the two-time All-Star third baseman wants hitters to use the squish the bug method while they are in batter’s box. He also wants Little Leaguers to squish the bugs that can become a distraction while they are hitting.
So, what does squish the bug mean when it comes to hitting?
“Growing up in New Jersey I was taught that your back foot comes through the zone and as you come through it and as your back foot comes through, it turns and you squish the bug. You’re going to have more leverage hitting a baseball that way.”
Frazier squished his share of bugs during 11 years in the major leagues from 2011-21. He had 1,059 hits and 218 home runs for the Cincinnati Reds (2011-15), Chicago White Sox (2016-17), New York Yankees (2017), New York Mets (2018-20), Texas Rangers (2020) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2021).
One of Frazier’s most memorable moments was winning the 2015 All-Star Home Run Derby as his home ballpark, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Frazier also played for the United States in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. However, he first burst onto the national scene in 1998 when he helped lead his Toms River East team to the Little World Series championship in South Williamsport, Pa.
Thus, it only seems natural that Frazier and Off Mosquito and Tick Repellents are launching a “Squish the Bug” campaign, an initiative centered around teaching Little Leaguers batting fundamentals and how Off can protect families while outside during the warmer summer months.
Part of the campaign includes a limited edition Squish the Bug home plate turf mat designed to teach Little Leaguers the fundamentals of batting. With fonds memories of his Little League days, Frazier enjoys coaching and mentoring young players.
Frazier also is part of the broadcast crew for ESPN’s coverage of the Little League World Series.
“I have such a blast, and the kids are very receptive to coaching,” Frazier said. “But you’ve got to give credit to their parents because they know when you drop your kid off and I’m coaching them, they’re letting me be a coach and they’re letting me teach their kids not only the rights or wrongs of playing baseball, but the rights and wrongs of life. So, I have a blast. I love seeing the ups and downs and the kids how they get really high one day and then they get really low another day. And I’m trying to find that happy medium.”
Frazier didn’t have to worry about bugs interrupting his hitting while he was in the major leagues. However, he does remember watching Game 1 of an American League Division Series in 2007 between the New York and then-Indians in Cleveland on television.
Midges came off Lake Erie to swarm the ballpark. Yankees reliever Joba Chamberlain, trying to protect a 1-0 lead, was so distracted by the insects that he gave up the tying run in the eighth inning. Cleveland went on to win 2-1 in 10 innings to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series that it eventually won in four games.
“They should have had Off that day in Cleveland,” Frazier said with a laugh. “They would have gotten rid of those bugs.”
