Maikel Franco Confirms Promotion to Double-A was Sweet Idea

Look at you, Maikel Franco.

Hitting home runs, going 4-for-5, turning from a guy who is only heard about sometimes to the guy who is the center point of our reality.

No pressure.

It’s going to take more than Flying Squirrels to take down Franco, whose promotion from Lakewood to Reading is more and more of an instant success with every at-bat.  Franco torched Richmond last night, going 4-for-5 with a triple and a three run homer.  It was one of four homers on the night for the Fightins, who sent the Squirrels squealing back to the bus.  He was picked off first once, but nobody even cares about that, because Reading took the win, 14-6.

In four games, Franco has piled on a 1.441 OPS, which is so high in such a small sample size it’s not even worth writing down.  But he is 8-for-17 since arriving last week, with a triple and two dingers.

Mike Drago of the Reading Eagle watched firsthand as Franco easily fireballed a bunt to first for the out on his first ever fielded ball at this level.  It has all been a part of an impressive debut that has Drago, Reading’s man at FirstEnergy, debating whether Franco’s No. 8 status amongst Phillies prospects is even appropriate.  [Image c/o Philliedelphia]

"“Franco entered the season as the No. 8 prospect in the Philadelphia system but right now he’s considerably higher – maybe first or second.”—Mike Drago, Reading Eagle"

So anyways, sweet jesus.  Franco looks like the hottest thing since Roman Quinn was better than Billy Hamilton.  Is it too early to talk about September call-ups?  Is it too early to to talk about Franco as one of them?  Is it too early to be talking about September and centralizing our happiness about it?

Well, Franco’s got one promotion this year, and it’s been swell.  Maybe we should just simplify, as he seems able to.

"“I’m not nervous,” Franco said. “It’s baseball, you know what I mean? I’m not nervous for that. I like to play baseball all the time.”—Mike Drago, Reading Eagle"