Adam Frazier on 2024 and O's future: "The sky is the limit"

He was back playing second base at Camden Yards last night. But this time, Adam Frazier was not playing for, but rather against the Orioles.

Frazier enjoyed his time as an Oriole and was a key contributor to a 101-win team that won a division championship.

He has high praise for pretty much everything Oriole – especially his former teammates, manager Brandon Hyde and the Baltimore coaching staff.

“The whole staff really from (manager Brandon) Hyde on down, the hitting side, everything. Really bonded with those guys. The preparation that they were able to give us day in and day out, the (scouting) reports, it was top notch.

“You come to the Yard every day and you didn’t have to worry about this or that. It was just - take care of your business, help each other out and go win a game. It’s very refreshing. Some places I have been over my career, it hasn’t always been about that. It’s top notch,” said Frazier.

He called the Orioles, if not the best team in baseball, among those on the short list.

“They are definitely one of them,” he said. “Everybody knows coming into Baltimore you better be on your game. You have to play clean baseball and great baseball to beat them."

How good could they be in the next few seasons?

"The sky is the limit," he said. "Think everybody gets a glimpse of Gunnar (Henderson) every night. Of Adley (Rutschman), of Grayson Rodriguez. Those young guys. But you know, Cedric Mullins is really a special player. Austin Hays, (Anthony) Santander. It's one through nine and also the whole bench. 

"Three to five years, everybody knows (Jackson) Holliday is coming at some point, but there are a lot of other guys coming too. It's going to be whatever they want to make it. That team is that talented.

"I'm sure Mike (Elias) and his staff are going to do everything they can to add around that the next few years. That window (to win) has already started and who knows how long that window will be open."

Frazier played in 141 games with the Birds, hitting .240/.300/.396/.696 with 13 homers and 60 RBIs. He had some big hits for the team, like his two-out, game-tying double in the last of the ninth Sept. 17. That was the day the O’s rallied to beat the Rays and clinch a playoff berth.

Frazier said that, at first last winter, he thought there may be a chance to re-sign with the team. But eventually both sides moved on. Still, Frazier spent a lot of time thinking back on the fun that was the 2023 O’s year.

“A good bit. It ended on a sour note. We didn’t get swept all year until that series. That was tough but it was a fun run and wish we could have finished that off better,” he said.

This year and last year he has gotten to play with some of the top young talent in the sport, including the two players drafted No. 1 and No. 2 in 2019 in Adley Rutschman and Bobby Witt Jr.

“It’s next level stuff. Rutsch, Julio Rodriguez, Gunnar, Bobby Witt. Those are kind of elite level guys. The game is different for them. Those guys are special, and it’s been fun to play alongside those guys.”

Now he is with a young and talented K.C. club that can remind some of the O’s teams when they turned the corner and began to win.

“The attention to detail is the same in Kansas City as it was in Baltimore. When you have that, it’s going to allow you to win more games. You’re going to do the little things the right way,” said Frazier.

A walkoff win: The Orioles improved to 3-1 with a walkoff win last night. Jordan Westburg's two-run homer in the ninth provided the Orioles a 6-4 victory over Kansas City at Oriole Park.

"That was the coolest moment of my career so far," said Westburg. "I've never had a walk-off in all the years I've played baseball. To have my first one here in Baltimore is pretty special."

Added skipper Brandon Hyde: "He's got the ability to hit the ball out the other way, as you saw tonight. When he's going to right-center, driving the ball the other way, he can do things like he just did. He's got a lot of power that way. Great time to have an awesome swing."

Click here to take a look at Westburg's first walkoff home run.

Click here to check out break-camp rosters posted yesterday for Double-A Bowie, High-A Aberdeen and Low-A Delmarva. All three clubs play openers on Friday.