Maikel Franco – 3B/1B – Philadelphia Phillies
Height: 6'1" Weight: 180 lbs. -- Hits: Right Throws: Right
2014 Stats – 231 AB, .257/.299/.428, 16 HR, 78 RBI, 64 Runs, 3 SB
Scouting Report
The Phillies signed Franco as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic when he was only 18 years old. He showcases a lethal power swing and natural ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. His power is legit but that is the only aspect of his game that is really a plus at this point. After a breakout season split between single-A Clearwater and double-A Reading in 2013, Franco was completely out of sorts at the beginning of last season at triple-A Lehigh Valley. He eventually got it together and spent the final few weeks with the big league club in Philadelphia but he was clearly not the same hitter at any point in 2014.
Maikel Franco is an unorthodox power hitter. He does not hit for a high average yet makes very good contact. He doesn’t walk much or have a good command of the strikezone, yet he doesn’t strikeout much at all. He commands 3B well but is absolutely stationary on the basepaths. There are noticeable flaws in his swing. Franco has shown gaps on fastballs in on his hands as well as off speed pitches low and away. But when the pitcher misses location, Franco usually makes them pay.
Franco has also more than held his own defensively at 3B despite the team pivoting him to both first base and right field. He is athletic but it only shows on defense and not rounding the bases. The Phillies expected him to fill out physically more than he has to date. Ideally he will add 10-20 pounds of muscle by the time he is a full time MLB regular. Because he was an amateur free agent, Franco does not have the kind of money that other high end prospects these days. So he still has that hunger to get better.
What is clear is that Franco hits much better in the warm weather than he does in colder climates. In fact, he is hitting just .207/.257/.328 when the temperature is under 70 degrees in the minor leagues. Each of the past three seasons, Franco has gotten red hot in the summer months which is more than just a coincidence.
2015 Analysis
For the second consecutive spring Maikel Franco will compete with Cody Asche to be the starting 3B for the Phillies. These two actually matchup quite well and it should be quite a competition. Obviously, Asche has a leg up since he bats left-handed and has been in Philadelphia for the past two seasons. But he also hasn’t seized the job well enough for the Phillies coaches to have much faith in him.
Franco has the higher overall upside because of his wicked power potential. He is also a slightly better fielding third baseman than Asche. Neither one of these guys offers much in terms of consistently getting on base nor scoring runs. Asche also strikes out a lot more having whiffed 102 times in 397 at-bats last season.
The third base position has very few sure things heading into 2015. Once you get past the first six or seven players, it is all about controlling risk and maximizing upside. Cody Asche just doesn’t profile as a run producing bat or multi category impact fantasy player. But Maikel Franco, when hot is exactly the type of player that you want to grab in the late rounds. He has the potential to slug 18+ HR and drive in a bunch of runs even if he begins the season at Lehigh Valley. Franco will make it to Philadelphia this season and will get the shot to be an everyday major league player.
Compare To
Aramis Ramirez – Now remember I am old and can remember a very raw Aramis Ramirez coming up in the Pirates organization and Franco looks very similar to that guy. Obviously if he could have anything close to the career that Ramirez had the Phillies (and fantasy owners) would be very happy.
Josh Vitters – A fellow prospect whose career just hasn’t happened the way many thought it would a few years ago.
Current ADP
Maikel Franco has an average draft position of 405.59 according to the National Fantasy Baseball Championship (NFBC).
He was drafted in the 29th round (403rd overall) in the FSTA Fantasy Baseball League