White Sox Trade for Oak Forest Graduate Frasor

After spending his first seven major league seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, relief pitcher Jason Frasor is coming back home to the South Side.

The Blue Jays and White Sox agreed to a trade on Wednesday morning that will send Frasor, an Oak Forest High School graduate, and pitcher Zach Stewart to Chicago in exchange for starting pitcher Edwin Jackson. The White Sox will also be sending utilityman Mark Teahen to Toronto as part of the trade, and the Sox will also receive pitching prospect Zach Stewart.

Over the last three seasons, Frasor, 33, has evolved into one of the American League’s best middle relief pitchers. He had his breakout season in 2009, going 7-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 11 saves for the Blue Jays. This year, Frasor is 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 42 1/3 innings pitched.

As a right-handed reliever, Frasor fills one of the White Sox needs as they make a run at their first AL Central Division title since 2008.

Frasor graduated from Oak Forest in 1995 after starring for the Bengals as a starting pitcher, reliever and shortstop. He played his collegiate ball at Southern Illinois University. While at SIU, Frasor received the Richard “Itch” Jones award as the team MVP in 1997 and 1999.

The Detroit Tigers drafted Frasor in the 33rd round of the 1999 MLB Draft, but traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002. Just before the 2004 season, Frasor was sent to the Blue Jays for future All-Star Jayson Werth.

After being used primarily as a starter in the minor leagues, the Blue Jays converted Frasor to a relief pitcher and he made his major league debut for the Blue Jays in April of 2004.  

Frasor, who will turn 34 on Aug. 9, is also a cousin of Brother Rice graduate and former University of North Carolina point guard Bobby Frasor.