NATCHITOCHES, La. — Former Northwestern State University All-American David Frye added luster to the Demons’ Major League Baseball lore with every memorable moment he produced to propel the Cleveland Guardians to the top of the American League Central Division.
On Sunday afternoon, Fry made NSU baseball history when he was named an American League All-Star, making him the first Demons baseball player to be selected for the Midsummer Classic. This year’s event will be held on July 16th at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The field is located just 15 miles from his high school alma mater, Grapevine High School, and 18 miles from his hometown of Colleyville.
Frye, a versatile Cleveland player who was named to the All-Star ballot as the designated hitter, becomes just the second former Demons player to make an All-Star roster, joining seven-time All-Star and National Baseball Hall of Famer Lee Smith, who played basketball at NSU and was a Castor alumnus.
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Frye, a seventh-round draft pick in 2018, had a breakout season with the Guardians, earning an All-American season and earning Southland Conference Player of the Year, All-Louisiana Hitter of the Year and Southland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player honors.
Frye had played in 66 games before Sunday and had already set career highs in games played, at-bats (187), runs (29), hits (57), doubles (14), home runs (8), RBIs (33), walks (29) and stolen bases (4). His .305 batting average is tied for eighth in the major leagues and would be tied for eighth if he had more at-bats. His .920 OPS is good for 11th, sandwiched between Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.
With his selection to the All-Star Game, Frye becomes the first Northwestern State graduate to be selected to an All-Star Game in a US-based professional league since kick returner Terrence McGee was selected to the NFL Pro Bowl in 2004.
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A four-time All-Southland Conference selection at Northwestern State, Frye left Natchitoches as the team’s record holder in career at-bats (851), doubles (74) and total bases (431), as well as the team’s record for home runs (31). Frye remains the record holder in every category except home runs.
He ranks second in school history in hits (256) and RBIs (156) and remains in the top 10 in program history in runs scored (154, seventh), hit by pitch (29, tied for ninth) and walks (89, 10th).
The 2024 All-Star Game is scheduled to air on Fox on July 16 at 7 p.m.
Article written by: Jason Pugh, Assistant Director of Media Relations
