Due to the pandemic, the 2020 minor league season was canceled, removing a whole year of development for prospects all throughout each team’s systems.
Some took advantage of the time off to really work on the finer points of their game. One of those players was outfielder Matt Fraizer.
After a breakout season in 2021 that saw him get Pirates Minor League Player of the Year, he struggled last year in Altoona, slashing just .219/.284/.333 in 116 games.
Usually there is something different that you can find that might be the reason why a player all of a sudden struggles, especially playing a full season at a new level.