Maikel Franco has been promoted as a cornerstone player for the next contending Phillies team, but it is hard to say whether or not he can be that.
The Philadelphia Phillies, in year four of their rebuilding plan, have one of the top farm systems in the game, utilizing new data or what old-timers call, the eye-test. Even a near-blind Clint Eastwood’s scouting techniques in the movie, Trouble with the Curve, could draw his conclusions by listening to the crack of the bat or pop of the glove. The crack from Jorge Alfaro’s bat or the pop caused by the right arm of Sixto Sanchez would ring in veteran actor’s ears for days. The Phillies are loaded by any which you scout it.
This talented system still holds many questions and few givens. There are no Mike Trouts, Bryce Harpers, or Clayton Kershaws coming. The man who is supposed to be the cornerstone of this resurgence is third baseman, Maikel Franco. But is he?
Franco has been the definition of streaky since he was called up for good as a 22-year old in 2015. Last season was a struggle for most of the year, but a strong finish led to a 25-homer, 88 RBI campaign. Pitch selection and being pull-happy led to Franco’s paltry .255/.306/.427 stat line.
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At the outset of this season, it looked to be more of the same. Following a solid spring, Franco looked clueless. A 0-for-22 stint in mid-April had him staring at a .148 average.
Since that time, Franco has seemed to have found one of his hot streaks again and the team has ridden his successful to five consecutive wins, all versus division rivals.
But which is the real Franco? Can a player with such inconsistencies be the backbone of a contending franchise?
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The raw power remains. There have been few if any, complaints regarding his defense. He is easily a solid supporting bat if teamed with Harper or Manny Machado, who are both free agents two years from now, but is he one the in which the organization can be built around? Can he lead up-and-comers such as JP Crawford, Mickey Moniak, and the aforementioned Alfaro? Would he be better off slid across the diamond to first base, with Machado handling third?
Baseball is now full of projections, potential, and speculation. WAR, FIP, ADP, DFC, and OPS+, has forever changed the way we evaluate players, teams, and organizations as a whole.
It gives teams a better look at how a player is performing and whether or not that success can be sustained. The Phils will have to take a hard look at these numbers to figure out if Franco truly has what it takes to be an impact player.
Next: Phillies Schedule Gets a Lot Harder From Here
Franco will have a big impact on what the Phillies’ structure will be over the next few seasons, but what has not been determined is how. At third base, first base, or elsewhere.