Willow Glen Resident

Cover Story

Photograph by John Medina

San Francisco Giants player Kevin Frandsen turns a double play during a game against the San Diego Padres in June.

Major Leaguer

Willow Glen native Kevin Frandsen called up to The Show

By Emilie Crofton

Many young Bay Area baseball players grow up with a dream--to play for the San Francisco Giants. One year ago, that dream became a reality for Willow Glen native Kevin Frandsen.

"How many people can say they experienced being on the same team with Bonds when he broke the record?" Frandsen says.

On Aug. 7, Frandsen watched Barry Bonds hit one out of the park to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs.

"I'm lucky to be playing with some of the top players in the game."

Frandsen was called up from the minors one year ago to replace Ray Durham, who was on the disabled list due to a strained hamstring.

Playing in the big leagues isn't easy. Frandsen, 25, spends most of his time on the bench waiting to go into the game. But he's not complaining.

"I know I have to be patient," he says. "Every level of play gets harder and faster. In the big leagues it's a whole new ball game."

Frandsen is thrilled to be playing for the Giants, with home games only a short drive from his hometown.

"I'm so fortunate to be in San Francisco," says Frandsen, who grew up a Giants fan. "My friends and family are able to come to the games. I feel like I'm representing a lot of people now."

Frandsen says supporters from his Little League, Bellarmine College Preparatory and San Jose State University days continue to support him at games.

Friends and family say they are thrilled to be able to watch their favorite Giants player and are just as anxious as he is.

"We hope he gets the opportunity to show the kind of talent that he has," says Sam Piraro, his former coach at San Jose State University. "We're real proud of him."

Until then, Frandsen understands his role as the utility guy and continues to work hard so that he'll be given the chance to prove what he can do.

"When I'm given the opportunity, I'm going to take it," Frandsen says.

Sandlot

Growing up, Frandsen's role models weren't the popular all-stars in the league. Instead he looked up to such lesser known but hardworking players as former Giants second baseman Robbie Thompson and the Astros' Craig Biggio.

"They were never big-time stars but they worked hard every day, and I grew up wanting to be like them," Frandsen says.

Frandsen's parents, David and Tracie, are both teachers and sports coaches, so good work ethics and sports were a large part of Frandsen's upbringing.

During his first two years at Bellarmine, Frandsen played baseball under his father, who was the junior varsity coach. Frandsen admits it was frustrating as other players thought his success was based on family ties.

"I was on the all-star team, and people would say it was because my dad was coach," Frandsen says. "The reality is that because he was my coach, he was always hardest on me."

He made the varsity team his junior and senior year, playing for coach Gary Cunningham. With his growing success on varsity, skeptics became praisers. Cunningham remembers Frandsen's intense focus, determination, knowledge and passion for the game.

"He just loved to play and be out on the field," Cunningham says. "You could tell he was going to be successful. He was an all-around ball player."

Frandsen says he was never the most powerful player on the field, but his competitiveness, self-confidence and strong work ethic made him successful.

"Kevin was not the biggest player, but he played big," Cunningham says.

During high school Frandsen was a multi-sport athlete. Along with baseball, he played soccer, tennis and football. Cunningham says he played with a lot of passion no matter what the sport.

His senior year, Frandsen had a record-breaking 52 hits, shattering the school's existing stats.

Even with those numbers, Frandsen was offered a scholarship from only one school, San Jose State University. He accepted the offer and says playing for the university was an amazing experience.

Frandsen graduated in 2004, playing all four years as a starter. His years at SJSU brought him titles as all-conference player and all-time hit leader. He batted over .300 in each of his four seasons, finished with a .327 career average and was a first-team selection to the All-Western Conference his senior year.

"His name is littered through the school's record books," Piraro says.

Like Cunningham, Piraro says Frandsen's work ethics on the field never faltered.

"He gave the best of what he had every day," Piraro says. "As a coach he was all you could ask for a player."

To this day Frandsen remains grateful to San Jose State University.

"Piraro is the only one who gave me an opportunity to play in college," Frandsen says. "I'm here today because of that."

Since being called up to the majors, Frandsen has never forgotten his roots.

Both Cunningham and Piraro say Frandsen stops by to say hello every chance he's in town, and he comes to Bellarmine's and SJSU's baseball camps to encourage aspiring ball players. Frandsen knows he is fortunate to be where he is.

Field of Dreams

Frandsen has overcome a number of obstacles, but none compared to the loss of his brother D.J. to cancer in September 2004, three months after Frandsen was drafted by the Giants.

The Frandsen brothers were extremely close. Frandsen says he always looked up to his older brother, and D.J Frandsen was his biggest supporter.

"It was a genuine love between brothers," Piraro says. "Kevin had a tremendous amount of respect for him."

For most of his life, D.J. Frandsen battled Wilm's tumor, a form of kidney cancer. From the age of 10 to 18, he was in remission, but living with only one-eighth of a kidney. D.J. was an athletic as well, playing basketball, tennis and running cross-country. He even had a scholarship to play for Loyola Marymount University before suffering a relapse.

"He was one hell of an athlete," Frandsen says. "Even better than I was."

Frandsen says his brother's fight with cancer was what motivated him to succeed.

"Seeing my brother's determination made things easier for me," Frandsen says. "I would see his drive and just go with it."

At the same time, Frandsen's success was driving his brother to survive every day.

Frandsen proudly wears jersey No. 19 as a tribute to his brother.

"It's been a significant number," Frandsen says. "D.J was born May 19, his favorite number was 19, his favorite [Giants' pitching] coach Dave Righetti's number was 19, and he died after battling cancer for 19 years."

D.J. Frandsen looked up to Righetti. In May 2006, Righetti offered Kevin Frandsen his jersey number in honor of D.J.

American Pastime

One of the benefits of being in professional baseball is the ability to do a lot of good in the community, and this is one of Frandsen's top priorities.

Since becoming a Giant, Frandsen teamed up with Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford to create the program "Second to None." The program brings together families who have a sick child, but especially targets the siblings of children with cancer.

"When a family has a sick child the other siblings can feel neglected," Frandsen says "This program is meant to make all siblings feel special. The focus is on them."

Michael Link is the doctor who for years treated D.J at the hospital in Stanford and today works as the liaison for Frandsen and the hospital.

"I really like the specific slant that Kevin has taken with this program," Link says. "His personal initiative reflects his willingness to give back and show a sense of what it's like as the other sibling."

Families get to go down to the ballfield and watch batting practice, meet Kevin and other players and pose for pictures before a game.

Frandsen wants the brothers and sisters to know how important they are to their sick sibling.

"They are the rock, the true support," he says. "They need to realize that they create the positive energy. A simple smile that they give to their sick sibling is something the child lives off of every day."

Bertha Fajardo, community programs manager with the Giants, has been helping Frandsen with the program.

"Kevin is a wonderful kid. He's very friendly with a big heart and always has a smile on his face," Fajardo says. "He will do anything to make someone's day better. He wants them to have a good time, have fun, and forget about their illness for a while."

On the field Frandsen may not be playing as much as he'd like, but he has a growing fan base. He has already caught the attention of several familiar names in the sport.

Major league announcer Duane Kuiper and color analyst for the KNBR 680 radio Mike Krukow spoke about Frandsen in a pregame show June 5.

"He ain't afraid," Krukow said on air. "I hope all of you listening know that we think this kid is fantastic, and we wish we could have played with him."

Frandsen is still waiting for that breakout game, but he's confident it will happen.

"My time will come," he says.

Kevin Frandsen's baseball dream started early.

Frandsen played on Lincoln Glen's Little League.

Frandsen played ball at Bellarmine College Preparatory.

Kevin Frandsen slides into base while playing baseball at San Jose State University.