Frenzel gets playing time, shines with Sand Gnats

Cole Frenzel was given a choice.
Continue to platoon with the New York Mets’ Class A-Advance St. Lucie (Fla.) Mets or play full time with the Class A Savannah (Ga.) Sand Gnats.
The Dickinson High graduate chose the latter.
“We had quite a few guys with a lot of top prospects,” he said. “I didn’t play quite as much as they wanted me to play. As the season moved on, they gave me the opportunity to go to Savannah where I would play every day or stay in St. Lucie where I would play a couple times every week. I said I wanted to play, so I came back to Savannah.”
The decision has worked out quite well. Frenzel, who has played in 19 games since being moved down to Savannah, is batting .302 with three extra-base hits and seven RBI.
Frenzel also continued his streak of solid Junes. In his last two full seasons, Frenzel has batted over .300, which included a red-hot performance in 2012 when he hit .425 with the Mets’ Class A affiliate, Brooklyn Cyclones.
“I’ve just been able to get into a rhythm a little bit better by playing every day,” Frenzel said. “I’m used to seeing the ball rather than playing a day and taking two or three days off. I’ve been getting a lot of good pitches to hit. There are a lot good hitters in his lineup.”
With Frenzel moving to Savannah, this is his third stint in three years with the Sand Gnats.
Frenzel spent the entire 2013 season with the Sand Gnats as he helped the team win the Southern Atlantic League championship.
Frenzel began the 2014 season with St. Lucie. In 22 games, he hit .242 with five doubles, one home run, 10 RBI and scored four runs.
Though he wasn’t in the lineup every day, Frenzel said he learned how to stay prepare for whenever his number was called.
“It’s a little bit tougher when you are trying to get into a rhythm and you aren’t playing every day,” he said. “But you still have to find ways, because that might be your role once you get to the big leagues. There are guys who just pinch hit or play once or twice a week. It’s a good experience for me to learn what I need to do to help my development.”
If Frenzel spends the rest of the season in Savannah, he has a chance of winning two straight SAL titles.
The Sand Gnats have already qualified for the postseason by finishing with the best record in the first half of the season.
“All the fans are great,” he said. “They know who you are and they are excited to see you play. We had a good team last year and they have a good team this year. The atmosphere here is exciting. It’s great and they are excited for the playoffs.”