Frazier passes on Phillies, to attend Pepperdine

It came down to the Aug. 16, 9 p.m. deadline but former Upland High School pitcher Scott Frazier has elected to play baseball at Pepperdine for the next three years instead of signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, who selected him in the fifth round of the MLB draft in June.

The 6-foot-7 right-hander was expected to be drafted as early as late in the first round before sliding to the 171st overall selection. Accordingly, the Phillies likely would have needed to pay him more handsomely than a fifth-round pick. Frazier, the 2010 Inland Valley Player of the Year, was undecided as of Monday afternoon but ultimately thought he could improve his draft status - while receiving a top-flight education - by playing the mandated three years at a Division I school before re-entering the MLB draft.

"I decided (Pepperdine) would be the best thing for my future right now," Frazier said. "I'm still eligible to enter the draft in three years but I'm just excited for the next three years right now."

Frazier, whose fastball topped out at 96 mph last season, went 6-2 with a 1.16 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 54 innings his senior season.