South Side Hit Pen Top Prospect 70: Tyler Frost

Top of the pop: Frost has proven to have a sweet power stroke from the leadoff spot. (Tiffany Wintz/South Side Hit Pen)

Tyler Frost
Right Fielder
5´10´´
183 pounds
Age: 24
SSHP rank among all right fielders in the system: 6
South Side Sox 2019 Top Prospect Rank: 41

Tyler Frost was consistently good with Gonzaga, and while he had a solid junior season for the Bulldogs, his numbers were just a shade off his sophomore year totals. As a junior, he slashed .284/.372/.442 in 53 games with five doubles, one triple, nine homers, 38 RBIs, two stolen bases, 25 walks (10.0%) and 39 strikeouts (15.6%). The White Sox liked him enough to select him in the 15th round of the 2017 draft. Later that year with Great Falls, he slashed a respectable .261/.335/.465 in 32 games with seven doubles, five triples, four homers, 26 RBIs, two stolen bases, 13 walks (8.1%) and 33 strikeouts (20.6%).

Frost again posted respectable numbers in 2018 with Kannapolis, as he slashed .241/.324/.445 in 124 games with 21 doubles, four triples, 18 homers, 65 RBIs, seven stolen bases, 46 walks (9.9%) and 129 strikeouts (27.8%).

The 2019 season saw Frost hold his own despite striking out more frequently, as he slashed .247/.319/.412 for the Dash in 104 games with 26 doubles, three triples, 12 homers, 47 RBIs, 11 stolen bases, 35 walks (7.5%) and 146 strikeouts (31.3%). He batted leadoff frequently for the Winston-Salem squad, and was more than willing to take enough pitches. Unfortunately, he had the tendency of taking too many called third strikes in the process, which has limited his batting average throughout his career.

Frost has hit for more power and stolen more bases than expected to date, but his ability to advance beyond Double-A may depend his ability to make contact going forward. He has a solid arm which plays well in both center and right, and is an asset in both positions. Expect Frost to begin the 2020 season with Birmingham.