Dodgers Prospect Nick Frasso Throws Heat and Is Learning What Works

Nick Frasso has a high-octane heater and an intriguing ceiling. Acquired by the Los Angeles Dodgers from the Toronto Blue Jays at this summer’s trade deadline, the 23-year-old right-hander was described by Eric Longenhagen prior to the season as “an uncommon sort of prospect,” a projectable hurler who’d had a velocity spike before undergoing Tommy John surgery shortly after being selected 106th overall in the 2020 draft.

Loyola Marymount University product has only elevated his profile since returning to the mound in mid-May. Featuring a fastball with more juice than the one he displayed pre-injury, he logged a 1.83 ERA with 76 strikeouts and just 33 hits allowed in 54 innings. Moreover, he did so while climbing from Low-A to Double-A in three months time.

Frasso — No. 20 on our Dodgers prospect rankings, with a 40+ FV — sat down to discuss his repertoire, and recent change of scenery, following an August outing with the High-A Great Lakes Loons.

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David Laurila: Let’s start with your early-career development. What do you know now that you didn’t when you signed your first professional contract?

Nick Frasso: “My last year in college is when we finally got a TrackMan at our school and as that was the COVID year, I didn’t even get to use it a ton. It wasn’t until I jumped into pro ball that I really got access to all the analytical stuff — the metrics that allowed me to see what my pitches do, what works better in certain situations, and stuff like that. I’ve kind of gone from there.”

Laurila: I was at last night’s [August 16] game and saw you hit triple digits a couple of times. How does your fastball profile outside of the velocity?

Frasso: “It has a little bit of carry to it, and a little bit of run. On a good day I’m probably upper-teens and can maybe get it to 20 [inches of vertical]. I’m not up in the zone all the time, but it’s kind of tough to get to that ball for a lot of hitters, so I definitely go up there.”

Laurila: Did you throw many elevated fastballs in college, or is that mostly new to pro ball?

Frasso: “I started doing it in college, although I honestly didn’t know the reason why it worked. I just knew that it was was working — I saw it working — so I began throwing it more often. Now, being in pro ball, I have that understanding. I think the efficiency on it is pretty good, but there is also that little bit of arm-side run — just a tad, nothing too crazy. For the most part, my fastball is spinning pretty true.”

Laurila: Jumping back to your velocity, is this the first year you’ve hit 100 mph?

Frasso: “It is, and while it’s definitely cool to see triple digits… I mean, it’s something you kind of work for, but you’re also pitching in a game. You maybe see it [on the scoreboard] and are like, ‘Okay, that’s cool,’ but then you’ve got to lock in and get to that next pitch. In the end, it’s about getting outs.”

Laurila: What is the movement profile on your other pitches, and which of them do you feel is the best?

Frasso: “My slider has got kind of a nice little tight downward movement, and my changeup kind of moves horizontally. Which is better kind of depends on the day. Sometimes the slider is working better — it feels better — and sometimes the changeup is looking good, so I’ll use that more often. It also kind of depends on the hitters.”

Laurila: What about your conversations with the coaches and coordinators here? Has there been a primary focus?

Frasso: “I’m super new to the organization — I’ve only been here around two weeks — so I’m still getting acclimated with everything and everyone. But they kind of know what I do. I talk to them about how I pitch, and they give me tips here and there on how they think I should pitch. But again, I’m still getting into the thick of things.”

Laurila: How much did you know about the Dodgers’ pitching development program prior to the trade? It’s obviously highly regarded.

Frasso: “I knew they were a top-of-the-line organization. I’ve actually been a Dodgers fan my whole life — I grew up in the Los Angeles area — but while I knew they were one of the best organizations in baseball, I didn’t know just how cutting edge they were in terms of pitching development. After I got here is when I really realized just how good they are with that stuff.”

Laurila: How does it compare to what you experienced with Toronto?

Frasso: “I know I’m kind of repeating myself here, but I’m still very fresh and new to the organization. There’s obviously a lot of information, but having not dove into all of it yet — I’m really just touching the surface — it’s hard to compare. I can say that both organizations are good.”