You could say these aren’t the best of times for the Phillies, but few expected them to be. With a roster bogged down by expensive, declining veterans, Philadelphia’s squad has shown little reason to get excited in 2015. Though their current 5-11 record wouldn’t exactly be damning under normal circumstances, the Mets‘ blistering 13-3 start already has them sitting eight games back in the National League East.
A spark may be on the way, however, in the form of infield prospect Maikel Franco. General manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., often maligned for a typically glacial pace in addressing the team’s needs, might be inclined to promote the 22-year-old, who has been hitting well at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, sooner rather than later. There is enough buzz around Franco that Jim Callis of MLB.com just lifted him to the number-one spot on his list of minor league fantasy prospects. And while fantasy owners might have their interests piqued by the youngster’s offensive potential, the Phillies will be hoping he can turn into a productive piece for their franchise in transition.
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The desire to call up Franco only intensifies with the severity of Ryan Howard‘s struggles. Philadelphia would like nothing more than to be rid of their albatross of a first baseman, but if it was that simple it would have been done long ago. Howard has been in a much-publicized free-fall since 2011, the last season in which he hit at least 30 homers and drove in 100 runs. Injuries have been a major part of his inability to rebound, but his free-swinging approach at the plate (he struck out an MLB-leading 190 times last year) hasn’t done him any favors either. 2015 isn’t shaping up to be any better. Over 13 games he’s batting .196 with just a single home run and four RBI.
If the Phils still can’t find a suitor for their former MVP (a tall task even if they eat virtually all of the remaining $60 million on his deal including its 2017 buyout), they may finally resign themselves to shelving Howard in favor of a younger alternative. Franco will be that guy. Signed as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, he has experience at both corners of the infield and will offer some flexibility in that regard. He enjoyed a breakout 2013, when he hit .320 with 31 home runs and 103 RBI between High-A Clearwater and Double-A Reading. His efforts that year were enough to earn him the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year Award.
That Balls Outta Here
Franco cooled off the following season due to a sluggish first half, slashing .257/.299/.428 in a full season at the Triple-A level. He’s gotten off to a much better start in 2015 though, posting a .355/.403/.565 line over 14 games. He didn’t make the roster out of Spring Training after Cody Asche won the third base job, but Franco’s opportunity could be rapidly approaching at the other corner of the diamond.
The most prudent thing the Phillies can do at this point is prepare for the future, and giving Franco an extended look at the big league level should be a key part of that plan. Scouts like his strong arm but he’s not quick on his feet, meaning he might be a better fit at first base in the long run. The real upside, however, lies in his bat. His raw power rates very highly (60-70 on an 80 scale), and he’s also shown the ability to make consistent contact. He’s aggressive and doesn’t walk much, but he tends to limit the strikeouts: last year he fanned once every 6.9 at-bats.
Franco still needs some seasoning, but now might be as good a time as any for him to start getting it at the Major League level. The ingredients are there for a legitimate right-handed power threat, and Philadelphia will hope that someday translates to around 30 home runs in their lineup. If anything, supplanting Ryan Howard with Maikel Franco, even gradually, would be a firm indication that a new era is coming. In what’s looking to be another lost season, testing the farm system should be high on the organization’s list of priorities.
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