Maikel Franco: The New Hope

With the Phillies struggling to beat some of the worst teams in baseball, there isn’t much to be hopeful about.

I am hear to let you know that there is hope right around the corner! Just kidding. It is, at best, three years away. Hope comes in the name of Maikel Franco. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” That is some inspiring wordsmithing.

Do you know what else is inspiring? Franco has been spectacular so far this year, unlike the hip Tom McCarthy-ism I used to start this paragraph.  He is batting .297 and last night hit another home run to give him 15 on the year.  Those are legitimate home runs too, not like the fake ones Darin Ruf hits.  Keep in mind it is only June. Franco only has 253 at bats.

Franco was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010.  Not only does he provide that international flair that helps win championships, he is a spry 20 years old. At the beginning of the season Baseball America ranked Franco as the organizations eighth best prospect.  It is safe to say he is firmly in the top three at this point alongside Jesse Biddle and Roman Quinn.

The only question that remains is will Franco be a first ballot Hall of Famer. As the summer moves forward the hype machine will hopefully get rolling for this kid.  I am talking about Domonic Brown level of hype here. I want nothing less. Franco deserves nothing less.