Rivals and pals, Frazier and Meadows
Georgia high schoolers grew up challenging, supporting, competing with each other
Clint Frazier and Austin Meadows. Or Austin Meadows and Clint Frazier. It really depends on whom you ask.
Georgia high schools have produced a fair share of baseball talent, especially in recent years. Just a year ago, outfielder Byron Buxton was drafted No. 2 overall by the Twins and right-hander Lucas Sims was selected later in the first round by the Braves. But the Peach State hasn't seen anything quite like the buzz these two prep outfielders -- ranked 4th and 5th on MLB.com's Top 100 Draft Prospects list -- have created.
Frazier and Meadows have grown up together on baseball fields, and their high schools are a virtual stone's throw from each other. They have long been compared to each other and likely will continue to be for as long as they put on a uniform. And, as next month's First-Year Player Draft approaches, neither seems to have a problem with that.
"During the summer I was out on a mission to prove to myself and everybody else that I was as good as, if not better than, Austin," said Frazier, who played with Meadows at various summer showcases, which he said helped him prepare for the extra attention they've received this spring. "I used him as motivation over the summer. I wasn't going to take a play off, because I knew he wasn't going to take a play off.
"I think having me there helped push him, too. [Coaches and instructors] were always challenging us to beat each other. I think we really pushed each other this year."
Said Meadows: "It's been a really good relationship; it's a friendly competition. We played together the whole summer, through all the events, had fun with each other, helped each other out through the bad days and the good days, learning each other's strengths and weaknesses. We've played with each other since we were nine or 10 years old, so we know each other well on the baseball side of things. It's good to have him to support me, as well as me to support him."
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