Kevin Frandsen
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Kevin Vincent Frandsen (born May 24, 1982) is an American sports broadcaster and former professional
baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
utility player In sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. Sports in which the term is often used include association football, basketball, American football, baseball, rugby union, rugby league, softball, ice hockey, and water ...
. Frandsen played in
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
,
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
,
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
, and
Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...
. He has provided television color commentary for the Nationals since the 2022 season.


Playing career


College

Born in
Los Gatos, California Los Gatos (; ; ) is an List of municipalities in California, incorporated town in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population is 33,529 according to the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is located in the San Franc ...
, Frandsen graduated from
Bellarmine College Preparatory Bellarmine College Preparatory is an all-boys, Jesuit, private secondary school located in San Jose, California. Founded on May 8, 1851, it is the oldest Jesuit secondary school in California and the second-oldest west of the Mississippi River. ...
in
San Jose, California San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...
, and later attended
San José State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public research university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State Universit ...
, playing for the Spartans and leaving the school as its all-time leader in
hits Hits or H.I.T.S. may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music * '' H.I.T.S.'', 1991 album by New Kids on the Block * ''...Hits'' (Phil Collins album), 1998 * ''Hits'' (compilation series), 1984–2006; 2014, a British compilation album s ...
. Frandsen is one of 28 graduates from Bellarmine to play professional baseball. Frandsen was inducted into San Jose State's Hall of Fame in 2014.


San Francisco Giants

He was drafted by the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
in the 12th round (370th overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft and made his Major League debut with the Giants on April 28, 2006. Frandsen hit his first Major League
home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the Baseball (ball), ball is hit in such a way that the batting (baseball), batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safe (baseball), safely in one play without any error ( ...
on August 17, 2006, against the
Padres {{About, the Roman Catholic priests' organization, other uses, Padres (disambiguation) ''Padres Asociados para Derechos Religiosos, Educativos, y Sociales'' ( Spanish for "Priests Associated for Religious, Education, and Social Rights") is a Chica ...
at
Petco Park Petco Park is a ballpark in San Diego, California. It is the home of the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). The ballpark is located in the East Village neighborhood of downtown San Diego, adjacent to the Gaslamp Quarter. Petco Par ...
. On May 13, 2007, Frandsen, playing 2nd base, assisted on
Omar Vizquel Omar Enrique Vizquel González (; born April 24, 1967), nicknamed "Little O", is a Venezuelan former professional baseball shortstop. During his 24-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Vizquel played for the Seattle Mariners, Cleveland Indi ...
's MLB record setting 1,591st double play. On September 21, 2007, Frandsen became the most recent player on the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
to get five base hits in a single game In March 2008, the San Francisco Giants confirmed that Frandsen ruptured his left
Achilles tendon The Achilles tendon or heel cord, also known as the calcaneal tendon, is a tendon at the back of the lower leg, and is the thickest in the human body. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius (calf) and soleus muscles to the calcane ...
, which forced him to miss nearly the entire season. Frandsen was activated before the final game of the season; he had his only
at-bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, b ...
as a
pinch hitter In baseball, a pinch hitter (PH) is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead (not in active play); the manager may use any player who has not yet entered the game as a substitute. Unlike basketball, A ...
and made an out. Frandsen participated in the
Arizona Fall League The Arizona Fall League (AFL) is an off-season baseball league owned and operated by Major League Baseball (MLB) which operates during autumn in Arizona, United States, at six different baseball complexes. Arizona Fall League rosters are filled ...
in 2005, 2006 and 2008. During the Giants' 2009
spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
camp Frandsen competed with
Emmanuel Burriss Emmanuel Allen Burriss (born January 17, 1985) is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals, and Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hi ...
for the starting
second baseman In baseball and softball, second baseman, abbreviated 2B, is a fielding position in the Infielder, infield, between Baseball field#Second base, second and Baseball field#First base, first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and f ...
position; Burriss was named the starter on April 1, 2009, and Frandsen was sent to the Triple-A
Fresno Grizzlies The Fresno Grizzlies are a Minor League Baseball team of the California League and the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. They are located in Fresno, California, and play their home games at Chukchansi Park, which was opened in 2002 in ...
. Later in the year, May 17, 2009, Frandsen was called up as
Juan Uribe Juan Cespedes Uribe Tena (born March 22, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Brav ...
was placed on the bereavement list.


Boston Red Sox

Just prior to the 2010 season, Frandsen was dealt to the
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
for a player to be named later and cash considerations. On March 29, he was optioned to the Red Sox's Triple-A Affiliate, the
Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...
, along with catcher Dusty Brown. He was
designated for assignment Designated for assignment (DFA) is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball (MLB). A player who is designated for assignment is immediately removed from the team's 40-man roster, after which the team must, within seven days, return the pla ...
on April 28.


Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

On April 29, 2010, Frandsen was acquired off waivers by the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
. He was added to the active roster, mainly playing third base to help the team deal with injuries to
Maicer Izturis Maicer Eduardo Izturis (; born September 12, 1980) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball infielder. During his career he played for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB ...
and
Brandon Wood Richard Brandon Wood (born March 2, 1985) is an American former professional baseball infielder and Minor League Baseball manager (baseball), manager. He played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Basebal ...
. After the 2010 season, the Angels non-tendered Frandsen, making him a free agent.


San Diego Padres

On January 5, 2011, Frandsen signed a minor-league contract with the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
. He was released on March 25.


Philadelphia Phillies

Three days after his release from the Padres, Frandsen signed a minor league contract with the
Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...
. He spent the 2011 season with the
Lehigh Valley IronPigs The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. They are located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and they are named in reference to pig iron, used ...
, the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate. After spending the first four months of the 2012 season in Lehigh Valley, he was placed on the Phillies' 25-man active roster on July 27 following
Plácido Polanco Plácido Enrique Polanco (; born October 10, 1975) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins. He was ...
's move to the
disabled list In Major League Baseball (MLB), the injured list (IL) is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players. Before the 2019 Major League Baseball season, 2019 season, it was known as the disabl ...
. Frandsen played in 55 games for Philadelphia in 2012, including 49 starts at third base, batting .338 with 10 doubles and 2 home runs in 195 at-bats. In November, he agreed to an $850,000 contract for 2013, avoiding arbitration. On May 26, 2013, Frandsen was ejected by umpire
Mike Winters Michael Winters may refer to: *Michael Sean Winters, American journalist and writer * Michael Winters (actor), American actor *Mike Winters (umpire) Michael John Winters (born November 19, 1958) is an American former umpire in Major League Baseba ...
for arguing a swinging strike call. It was Frandsen's first career MLB ejection. On June 22, Frandsen hit his first career walk-off home run, a blast off the facade of the upper deck in left field, giving the Phillies a win over the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
. He led MLB with 14 pinch hits in 2013, batting .250 with one home run and 10 RBIs as a pinch hitter. In 119 games, he hit .234 with 5 home runs. On December 2, 2013, Frandsen signed one-year contract with Philadelphia that would pay him $900,000 in 2014, again avoiding arbitration. He was outrighted off the roster on March 23, 2014 and elected for free agency on March 25.


Washington Nationals

Frandsen signed with the
Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...
on March 26, 2014. He
slashed Ash are a Northern Irish rock band formed in Downpatrick, County Down in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray. As a three-piece, they released mini-album '' Trailer'' in 1994 and full-lengt ...
.259/.299/.309 and was one of the Nationals' least valuable players, according to Baseball Reference's wins above replacement statistic. The Nationals released him on April 1, 2015.


Arizona Diamondbacks

Frandsen signed a minor league deal with the
Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...
on April 21, 2015. He was released on May 30.


San Francisco Giants (second stint)

Frandsen signed a minor league deal for another stint with the
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
on May 31, 2015. On September 23, he was called up to the majors to replace Ehire Adrianza after the latter had suffered a concussion. In 7 games, he batted 2-for-11 for the Giants.


Post-playing career

When Frandsen did not receive an invitation to spring training in 2016, he realized his baseball career was coming to an end. On August 8, 2016, he started co-hosting a morning sports talk radio show on KNBR 1050 called "The Audible". On August 14, 2017, he began co-hosting "KNBR Tonight" on KNBR 680. Frandsen coached a year of high school baseball along with his former college coach Sam Piraro at Willow Glen High School in San Jose, California. That year, he helped coach them to a CCS Championship. In January 2018, it was announced that Frandsen would be serving as a part-time
color analyst A color commentator or expert commentator is a sports commentator who assists the main (play-by-play) commentator, typically by filling in when play is not in progress. The person may also be referred to as a summariser (outside North America) ...
for the
Philadelphia Phillies Radio Network The Philadelphia Phillies Radio Network is a network of 17 radio stations in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey that air Major League Baseball games of the Philadelphia Phillies. The lead announcers are Scott Franzke with play-by-play and L ...
during the 2018 season. In December 2018, it was announced that Frandsen's radio role would expand to calling half the Phillies' games per season alongside play-by-play announcer Scott Franzke. In January 2022, the Washington Nationals announced that Frandsen would join the MASN broadcast team and provide color commentary for Nationals TV coverage.


Personal life

Frandsen, with family and friends, started and runs the "19 For Life" Foundation "...to fund off-site recreational activities for children coping with serious illness at
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford (LPCH) is a nationally ranked women's and children's hospital which is affiliated with Stanford University Health system's branding structure. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital maintains independe ...
; scholarships for local high school athletes who have overcome illness and adversity; and Bellarmine seniors needing financial assistance to complete their high school education." In 2007, Frandsen completed the two courses he needed for graduation and earned a degree in finance from
San José State University San José State University (San Jose State or SJSU) is a public research university in San Jose, California. Established in 1857, SJSU is the oldest public university on the West Coast and the founding campus of the California State Universit ...
.


References


External links

*
Frannie on the Farm
– Kevin Frandsen's MLBlog
San Jose State biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Frandsen, Kevin 1982 births Living people Baseball players from San Jose, California Major League Baseball second basemen San Francisco Giants players Los Angeles Angels players Philadelphia Phillies players Washington Nationals players 21st-century American sportsmen San Jose State Spartans baseball players Salem-Keizer Volcanoes players San Jose Giants players Norwich Navigators players Fresno Grizzlies players Pawtucket Red Sox players Salt Lake Bees players Lehigh Valley IronPigs players Clearwater Threshers players Reading Phillies players Reno Aces players Sacramento River Cats players Major League Baseball broadcasters Philadelphia Phillies announcers Washington Nationals announcers Bellarmine College Preparatory alumni