Franco Excited to Represent Phils in Futures Game

Maikel Franco, image- Jay Floyd

You likely won't find a happier minor leaguer than Phillies third base prospect Maikel Franco. The Dominican born 20-year-old is having a tremendous season, has started to become a house hold name and will represent the Phils in Sunday's MLB All-Star Futures Game. With all that in mind, Franco's ready to put forth his best efforts on a big stage but is still in amazement, at times, of his own output.

Signed by the Phillies in 2010 at the age of 17, Franco has steadily been climbing the developmental ladder ever since, making an impact last season with Class A Lakewood where he started off at somewhat of a slow pace. The youngster batted .207 with six homers, 27 RBI and a .607 OPS before he turned things up after the South Atlantic League All-Star break. In the second half of 2012, Franco really showed what he can do, as he posted a .346 average with eight home runs, 57 RBI, and a .925 OPS.

Franco, who had never before played in cold weather, cites an adjustment period last year to playing in the northeast in April and May, where the weather is far different from the Dominican Republic and Florida where he had spent those months each year until his appointment to man the hot corner for the BlueClaws last season.

This season, though, Franco has already surpassed last year's home run total, mashing 21 big flies thus far at two levels in 2013.

"That's amazing. I'm so happy. Unbelievable. But I've been consistent here. I had 14 home runs and now I've got (more than) 20 already, I'm so excited and so happy," Franco said with a proud expression.

Overall in 84 combined games with Class A Advance Clearwater and Double-A Reading, the 6-foot-1 185-pounder has tallied a .321 average with a .958 OPS.

Of his progress and the recognition of playing in Sunday's nationally televised prospect exhibition (ESPN2 at 2PM EST, live from New York's Citi Field), Franco beams and can't hold back a sizable grin across his youthful mug.

"I feel good. I feel excited because (I) play all the time and practice hard, so I want the fans and the coaches to think about good things for me," Franco excitedly said. "So, I just play hard and it's great if good things come for me."

Franco is slated to serve as the designated hitter for the World Team, a slot he'll gladly accept, despite taking great pride in his defense and feeling that's an equal part of his skill set.

"I give a lot of focus on (that side of my game) because I need my defense too, because I play an important position- third base. I'm focused in, twice. I want to get help every way I can and get better (all around)," Franco stated.

Franco will be joined by Reading Fightins teammate Jesse Biddle, who is ranked as PhilliesNation's top Phillies prospect for 2013.

Biddle, 21, has a 3-9 record with a 3.33 ERA and a .202 batting average against in 18 starts this season.

Watson on the shelf...

Last season's top draft selection by the Phils, Shane Watson, is slated to miss about a month, as he was placed on the disabled list this week with shoulder soreness. The 19-year-old righty had posted a 4-6 record along with a 4.75 ERA and a .230 batting average against in 16 starts for Lakewood this season prior to the injury.

Watson was slated to head to the Phillies' spring training facility in Florida on Sunday to begin a rehab program.

Justin De Fratus Interview Excerpts- May, 2011

Armed with a 2-0 record, 3 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 15 games this season for the Double A Reading Phillies, Justin De Fratus continues to make strides toward his goal of reaching the Major Leagues. Ranked as a top 10 prospect within the Phillies system last off-season, the 23-year-old De Fratus was in camp with the Phillies during big league spring training. In 3 games with the Phils during the Grapefruit League season, De Fratus allowed 4 earned runs in 4 innings and took a loss. He did strike out an impressive 5 batters in those 4 frames, however. Drafted in the 11th round of the 2007 amateur draft, De Fratus stood out as a force in relief last year for both the High A Clearwater Threshers and the R-Phils. In 49 combined games at the two levels, De Fratus posted a 3-0 record with 21 saves and a 1.94 ERA. De Fratus continued his excellent 2011 by pitching for Team USA in the Pan-American qualifiers held in Puerto Rico, helping the Americans finish with a 9-1 record. He also posted out...

Bubby Rossman's long awaited MLB debut

Eight years after he initially signed a professional contract with the Dodgers and a five-year stretch playing away from affiliated ball, Bubby Rossman became a major leaguer on Wednesday. Added as a substitute for pitcher Kyle Gibson, who is restricted from travel to Canada for the Phillies' series in Toronto, due to his medical inability to be vaccinated from COVID-19, Rossman took the mound for the first time in the majors. Rossman, who was a 22nd round draft selection in 2014 had pitched in 200 professional games before his one-inning outing in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Blue Jays. In 27 appearances with Double-A Reading this year, the 30-year-old right-hander has performed well, tallying a 2-2 record with a save, a 3.32 ERA and a .200 batting average against. The embedded video below features a media session with Rossman from prior to opening day this year, in which the California native discusses his journey through independent baseball and back to affiliated ball w...

Series Preview: Braves at Phillies, August 6-8

The Braves (62-46) travel to Philadelphia to begin a three-game series with the Phillies (49-59) on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park. In the past month, the two clubs have faced each other in two separate series, with the Braves winning all six of the contests. Atlanta’s recent dominance over the Phils is the opposite of how things went last season, when the Phillies handed the Braves six losses toward the end of the 2011 season. Those defeats shut the door on Atlanta’s postseason hopes. Read ahead for notes on the pitching the match ups and additional statistical information on this series. Monday, 7:05 PM. Ben Sheets (3-1, 1.46 ERA) vs. Vance Worley (6-6, 3.63 ERA). In 9 career starts against the Phillies, Sheets has a 3-4 record with a 4.50 ERA. Ty Wigginton is 12-for-36 (.333 avg) with 2 doubles and 2 HR in his career against Sheets. The righty Sheets was the Brewers' 1st round draft pick in 1999. In his last 5 starts, Worley has a 2-1 record with a 4.06 ERA. In 9 home s...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog