PORT ST. LUCIE — This is the best way to describe Todd Frazier:
“Todd is a fighter,’’ Mets manager Mickey Callaway said.
That runs in the family. This winter, when Frazier’s son Grant was only 5 weeks old, he was hospitalized with RSV, a virus that causes infections in the lungs and respiratory tract and is especially dangerous to infants.
“This was New Year’s Eve and he was there for nine more days,’’ Frazier told The Post at Mets pre-camp.
“He had like five different tubes going in and out of his nose. He had to have a feeding tube. He was in the [neonatal intensive care] unit. It wasn’t fun to watch. My wife slept there every night. I had the two other kids at home. Seeing your kid like that with tubes going in and out of his mouth and crying and being helpless, it really stings you a little bit. It’s scary.
“He’s all good now, thank God,’’ Frazier said. “The Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune did a hell of a job. I can’t thank them enough. The five or six people that came in every day and helped my wife out, too. They are like angels. Those nine days really taught me something. You appreciate life.
“He’s a fighter,’’ Frazier said of Grant. “He’s the third child, like I was. He is going to have to catch up to the other two. My daughter gives my other son the runaround. Kylie is a year and a half younger than Blake. She runs the household. If Kylie is not happy, nobody’s happy.’’
Frazier is so appreciative of his entire family pitching in and the strength shown by his wife, Jacquelyn, throughout the ordeal. Now he’s ready to do his job.
That’s who he is and has always been since leading Toms River East American Little League to a world championship. Since his first full MLB season (2012), Frazier has hit 171 home runs as a third baseman, second in the majors, trailing only Nolan Arenado (185).
“You still have to earn your job, that’s it,’’ Frazier said.
That’s why Frazier came here early.
“I thank my wife every day for coming down early,’’ he said. “She’s the first person I thank when it comes to baseball and everything.’’
He’s going to fight for his job. He enters the spring as the third baseman, but free-agent addition Jed Lowrie, primarily a middle infielder recently, is likely to see plenty of time at third. That could shift Frazier to first when Lowrie plays, but the Mets also have high hopes there for prospect Peter Alonso.
“Without a doubt,’’ said Frazier, who hit .213 last season with 18 home runs — a career-low since 41 games in his first season — over 115 games.
“This is a big year not only for myself — it’s a free-agent year — but for the team as well. It’s put-up-or-shut-up time,’’ added Frazier, who turns 33 Tuesday. “For me, I always like to put pressure on myself. My goal is to show New York who Todd Frazier really is. If I’m healthy they are going to get it.’’
Just as Noah Syndergaard told The Post on Tuesday, Frazier totally buys into new GM Brodie Van Wagenen’s comments that the Mets are the team to beat in the NL East.
“Without a doubt,’’ Frazier said.
“Mickey is going to love Jed Lowrie, how he prepares,’’ Frazier said. “I trained with him for two years in the offseason about six, seven years ago. He’s a pro’s pro, and Robinson Cano is one of the best second baseman to ever play the game.
“Edwin Diaz, shoot,’’ Frazier said of the new closer. “He’s so good I just may be able to stand there at third base and talk to the third-base coach the whole time. His fastball is so electric, and then he’ll flip over a slider because you are out in front. His arms are like octopus arms, he’s throwing 99 with deception.
“Brodie got the job and said I’m going to do this, this and this and he did this, this and this,’’ Frazier added of his former agent. “You don’t see that too often in the baseball world. Brodie has got the attention of all baseball. He is not afraid to pull the trigger.
“Whatever position they want me at, first or third,’’ said Frazier, who took throws at first base Wednesday, “I’m game for whatever game plan we want to do. But we just need communication on everything.’’
Bring it on.