That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Top individual seasons in team history by age

By Kerry Kauffman

Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Mike Schmidt, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 28: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 28, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA – JULY 28: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies bats during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 28, 2015 at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Age 22: Maikel Franco (2015)

Franco appeared in 16 games 2014, hitting just .179 with no home runs in 58 at-bats.  Playing in 80 games the following season, Franco showed promise as a 22-year old. He hit .280 with 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 50 RBI. That projects to over 40 doubles with nearly 30 home runs and 100 RBI.  Although Franco’s batting average dropped to .255 in 2016, his power numbers were respectable at 25 home runs and 88 RBI.

Unfortunately, Franco never made that next step from being a solid player to the All-Star level. His power numbers were nearly identical in 2017 (24 home runs, 76 RBI) but saw the average plummet to .230. While hitting 22 home runs in 2018, Franco hit only 17 doubles. Clearly not in the Phillies future plans as of the middle of last season, Franco hit only .234 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI.  Granting Franco free agency, he signed a one-year control with the Kansas City Royals this past offseason worth $3 million.

Age 23: Scott Rolen (1998)

After a Rookie of the Year season in 1997 in which Rolen hit .283 with 35 doubles, 21 home runs and 92 RBI, he enjoyed perhaps his best overall season in 1998 at the age of 23.  Rolen’s 120 runs, 174 hits and 45 doubles would end up being career highs. He added 31 home runs, 110 RBI, a .290 batting average and a Gold Glove Award.

A model of consistency, Rolen hit 26, 26, and 25 home runs over the next three seasons. He continued his outstanding defense, winning two more Gold Glove Awards. After seeing the Phillies as putting forth less than full effort into winning, Rolen was traded to the Cardinals in 2002. He went on to make seven more All-Star appearances and five more Gold Glove Awards.

Rolen hit .282 with 150 home runs in a Phillies uniform and retired with 2077 hits, 316 home runs and 1287 RBI. His eight Gold Glove Awards at third base is third-most all-time. Rolen received 35.3 percent of the votes for the Hall of Fame this year in his third year of eligibility.

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