- Full name Nate Frese
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Frese is the great-great-nephew of former Indians slugger Hal Trosky and the cousin of former White Sox righthander Hal Trosky Jr. A first baseman/righthander in his first two seasons at Iowa, Frese didn't become a full-time shortstop until 1998. He was bothered by a hernia in his pro debut that summer, batting just .218. He has made significant offensive improvements in the two seasons since. He may not be the flashiest shortstop, but Frese is effective. He has the most accurate infield arm in the system and made just 13 errors in 113 games at short last year. He has fine on-base ability and possesses unusual size and strength for a shortstop. Frese lacks the speed associated with a shortstop and isn't an effective basestealer. He still has to work to do to translate his strength into home run power. Ricky Gutierrez will be a free agent after 2001, so the Cubs will need a shortstop for next season. Frese might not be quite ready by then, though he'll probably be the system's best candidate to fill the opening. He'll start this year in Double-A.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Defensive SS in the Southern League in 2001
- Rated Best Defensive Infielder in the Chicago Cubs in 2001