Learning All Over Again

Grueling as it may be to stray away from home for the first time as promising but untested prospects, Pete Kozma and Parker Frazier made the most of their first stints at the professional baseball level. Never mind the high expectations as high draft selections, the Tulsa-area duo were learning day-to-day life experiences such as strenuous road trips to places they'd never been and awkward living arrangements - not exactly top luxury for players who were viewed upon as household names during the prior months as high school seniors. Kozma and Frazier were able to share their first-time adventures last month during their appearance as special guests at the Collinsville Cardinal Homerun Club Diamond Dinner. "It's a daily grind," Kozma said, "and I knew it would be pretty tough. There is so much more to it than just going out there and playing baseball games, but it is a great learning experience." "The eight-hour bus rides aren't too fun," Frazier said. "The bus rides are the biggest pain, but it's still very professional. You have to be at the park at certain times and if you're not you get fined. In high school, usually you run a pole or run laps if you get into trouble, but here you get fined." Kozma, the 18th overall selection of the St. Louis Cardinals, helped lead Owasso High School to its sixth state championship last year. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop clubbed a first-inning home run to lift the Rams to a 1-0 victory over Edmond Memorial in the Class 6A finals. Kozma, who originally signed with Wichita State, admitted he was somewhat awe-struck at the beginning, but was able to settle in and feel more comfortable. Kozma, the highest Owasso product ever selected in the draft, hit .522 with 11 home runs, 21 doubles, six triples and 55 RBIs during his final year. "It's been a tough transition," Kozma said. "It's a big jump from high school ball where you're facing 18-year old kids to pro ball." Kozma batted .233 during his 42 games in the Cardinals organization. He finished with a pair of home runs and knocked in 11 runs. He saw a good majority of his time in the Appalachian League with Johnson City (Tenn.) where he hit .264 in 30 games. "I struggled a little bit at first but I once I got my bearings I was able to settle in," he said. "I was really never able to get comfortable because I was moving around so much." Frazier, a Bishop Kelley High School product, was picked in the eighth round (252nd overall) by the Colorado Rockies, a club where his father, George Frazier, is currently a television analyst and who also pitched for nine seasons in the big leagues. "It's very special, but it's also a little added pressure," Parker said. "That was one of the reasons I got really stressed in the beginning and struggled. But now my dad gets to see me play more than once a year like he did when I was in high school." In 16 pitching appearances for Casper (Wyo.) of the Pioneer League, Frazier recorded a 3-5 won-loss record. The 6-foot-5, 160-pound right-hander collected 22 strikeouts in 44.2 innings of work, while posting a 10.07 ERA. "It was difficult at first," Frazier said. "I've learned how to persevere over all of the speed bumps that I've had. My first four starts were really rough and then they sent me to the bullpen and I was able to relax more."