10 Reasons To Get Excited For Maikel Franco
By Joe Giglio
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- Get excited, Phillies fans.
No, seriously.
For the first time in a long time, there's real reason for hope at Citizens Bank Park. Soon, potentially as early as this weekend, third base prospect Maikel Franco will arrive to help an offense that's on pace to be one of the worst in decades.
While Franco isn't the next Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, he's a very promising player that is capable of becoming the first home-grown Phillies everyday star in a long time. It's been 15 years since Jimmy Rollins debuted. Chase Utley arrived in 2003, Ryan Howard in 2004. For as excellent as Shane Victorino and Jayson Werth were, they arrived in different ways and were cultivated through other minor league systems.
On a team looking for building blocks and a fan base yearning for lineup cogs to follow on a daily basis, Franco is the first symbol of the next contending baseball team in Philadelphia. If prospects like J.P. Crawford, Roman Quinn and a stable of Double-A pitchers soon follow, the future will be much brighter than the present.
As we wait for Franco to assume the third base job, here are ten reasons to actual be excited for his arrival.
1. Since debuting in the Gulf Coast League as a 17-year-old, Franco has been younger than the average player in his league at every single stop. This season, his .913 OPS has come against a league that's, on average, almost five years older than him.
2. Aesthetically speaking, his swing reminds me of former AL MVP Miguel Tejada. Some will make the Adrian Beltre comparison. If he's half the player of either, Phillies fans will be in for a treat.
3. Franco appeared in the 2014 Futures Game. Since last July, 13 of the players in the game have debuted or become regular big league contributors. Pretty good company.
4. For a player with legitimate power, Franco hasn't struck out in more than 20 percent of his plate appearances since 2011. He makes contact.
5. He has fun on the field, something fans of the 2015 Phillies desperately need injected into the team. Recently, Franco had this to say after a game: "Every time I come in, I just try to be a clown a little bit and enjoy the moment. I love to play baseball."
6. Ruben Amaro Jr. is right about at least one thing: Franco will be an immediate upgrade over Cody Asche on defense. Even if he doesn't hit right away, he will catch the ball and show off a rocket arm.
7. Franco isn't a dead pull hitter. After watching his short stint in the majors last September and some of Lehigh Valley's games early this season, it's clear that he'll go the other way when the pitcher is giving him outside fastballs.
8. Heading into play on May 14, the Phillies are in the bottom half of baseball against left-handed pitching. Franco will immediately become one of Philadelphia's biggest power threats vs. southpaws.
9. This is just the start of an influx of talent to Citizens Bank Park. By the end of 2016, Franco could be joined by Crawford, Quinn, Aaron Nola and the players Amaro eventually receives back for Cole Hamels.
10. Power is returning to South Philly. The 2007 and 2008 teams didn't just win; they bludgeoned teams. Now it's not hard to go games without seeing the Phillies hit a home run, even in the homer-friendly CBP. Franco has 25-30 home run potential. Everyone digs the long ball.
Joe Giglio is a host on WIP. Find him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Catch Joe's next show on WIP Thursday night at 10 p.m.
