White Sox third baseman Frazier still having fun playing baseball

Todd Frazier burst on to the baseball scene in 1998. He was 12 years old.

In a preview of things to come, Frazier hit 4 home runs while leading his Toms River, New Jersey, team to the Little League World Series championship.

Now 31 and playing for the Chicago White Sox, the slugging third baseman still plays the game with the same boyish enthusiasm.

"There's going to be a lot of energy," a bubbly Frazier said last month after reporting to Sox training camp in Glendale, Ariz. "You are going to hear me yapping the whole time and yelling and screaming."

That is Frazier, and he conducts himself in much the same manner as former White Sox designated hitter Jim Thome.

Understanding that, at its core, baseball is a game, Frazier is always upbeat and thrilled to be making a living doing what he loves.

But major-league baseball is also serious business, as Frazier found out after the 2015 season when he came to the White Sox from the Cincinnati Reds in a three-way trade that also included the Los Angeles Dodgers.

During this past off-season, Frazier was back on the trade block as the Sox launched an overdue rebuilding project.

Whether he stays or whether he goes in another trade, possibly back home to the New York Mets, Frazier's enthusiasm is not going to change.

"I actually enjoy it," Frazier said of trade rumors. "I love hearing my name out there and just see what the rumors are and everything else, the speculations. It's nice to hear that. But it'll be nice to play here, as well."

In his first season with the Sox, Frazier provided expected power with 40 home runs, and he was second to Jose Abreu with 98 RBI.

Unexpectedly, Frazier was ineffective with runners in scoring position, batting .171. He hit .225 overall.

"It's a new year," Frazier said. "I just try and build off what I did last year. Think about the positives, the home runs, RBI, all that stuff. But I need to try and hit the ball to right field more. Get the average back up, on-base percentage, little stuff like that."

Frazier missed the first 10 Cactus League games with an oblique strain, but he was back in the lineup Wednesday and he'll break camp with the White Sox or another team.

If Frazier is moved at some point this season, Matt Davidson is waiting in the wings and will take over at third base.

Davidson, who is out of minor-league options, debuted with the Sox last June, suffered a broken foot in his first game and missed the rest of the season.