Division I programs wouldn't take Jeff Frye, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote. So he won NAIA All-American honors at Southeastern Oklahoma.
Then, when it came time for pro tryouts, he essentially borrowed a teammate's invitation and impressed enough to be drafted by the Rangers, The Star-Telegram wrote.
"I didn't expect him to be a standout type player," Frye's college coach Mike Metheny told The Star-Telegram after Frye had made the majors and then seen a series of early injuries. "He played for Southeastern like he plays for the Rangers. If they let him play, he'll do what he needs to do."
Frye went on to do what he needed to do to see time in a total of eight major league seasons, 90 or more games in three of those and hit for a cycle in one of those contests. He's since helped others as a player agent.
Frye's career began in 1988, taken by the Rangers in the 30th round of the draft out of Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
Frye started with the Rangers at rookie Butte. He hit .287 in 54 games. He then saw single-A Gastonia in 1989 and high-A Port Charlotte in 1990. He made AA Tulsa in 1991, then AAA Oklahoma City and Texas in 1992.
Frye debuted with the Rangers in July 1992. He eventually saw 67 games there and hit .256. He then lost all of 1993 after damaging his knee while jogging offseason.
He returned in 1994 for 57 games, then 1995 for 90 games. He moved to the Red Sox for 1996. He saw 105 games there and hit .286. He then saw 127 games in 1997 and hit .312.
In July 1997, Frye went 3 for 4, with the game winner in one contest, then returned to his locker to learn he and his wife were expecting their first child, The Hartford Courant wrote.
"Three-for-4 is great," Frye told The Courant afterward. "But honestly, this is a lot more exciting."
Frye stayed with the Red Sox into 2000, losing 1998 to injury. He then moved to the Rockies and then the Blue Jays for 2001.
In August 2001, Frye hit for the cycle in a lopsided win that saw his fourth leg be a single that could have easily been a double. The Associated Press noted his coaches approved of him stopping at first.
"I was hoping somebody would cut it off," Frye told The AP afterward. "It’s something I'll never forget."
Frye saw 74 games for the Blue Jays that year and hit .246. He ended with 667 total major league games played and a career .290 average.
In 2020, Frye worked as a player agent with Frye McCann Sports and even went viral on TikTok with some hitting videos.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, June 11, 1994: Looking past the obstacles, Part 2
- Hartford Courant, July 23, 1997: It's on the way: A whole new Frye
- Los Angeles Times, Associated Press, Aug. 18, 2001: Frye Pulls Up For Single, Gets Cycle
Made the Majors:1,319-33.4%-X
Never Made Majors:2,632-66.6%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:539-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:329
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