With little to be excited about in the big leagues for the Phillies, you might be able show a little bit of cheer as it looks like top prospect, Maikel Franco has started to heat up with the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs. After tearing apart Double-A pitching last season with Reading, hitting .339 with 13 doubles, 15 homers and 51 RBI's in just 69 games, Franco's bat has come to life to start the month of July.
Franco had a rough month of June, hitting just .162 over 27 games, striking out 31 times in 105 at-bats. Heck, he has had a rough season overall. With a .226 average overall, we all know that it is a growing year for the Phillies top prospect and perhaps July is the time he finally comes around. Through three games thus far, Franco is hitting .529 (9-for-17), including a 4-for-4 night on July 1st in a 2-1 win over the Syracuse Chiefs.
For those who may think Franco may be another bust prospect in the making, keep in mind that he is the second youngest player in the International League at 21. He got the scoring started in the 12-6 loss the Irongpigs suffered on Independence Day with a two-RBI triple to knock in teammates Leandro Castro and Russ Canzler, giving them a 2-0 lead. It was Franco's second triple of his International League career.
Yesterday's game for the Ironpigs was the longest in team history at five hours and 27 minutes. The winning run scored thanks to a hard-hit grounder off the bat of Maikel Franco that went through the legs of Rochester third baseman, Pedro Florimon, scoring Leandro Castro from third, giving the Ironpigs a 9-8 win. Franco went 3-for-8 during the marathon game, with a double, a homer, a run scored and three RBI's.
Saturday's game sealed Franco's third straight multi-hit game. During the three games, he has hit two doubles, a triple and a homer. He scored two runs and knocked in six. Over that streak, he has raised his average 17 points, from .209 to .226. Franco's most impressive month this season was May, where he hit .282 in 110 at-bats with seven doubles, a triple and three home runs.
Before the season began, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro said that Franco would be seeing some more time at first base, while his primary position would remain at the hot corner. Through 81 games, Franco has played 65 games at third, 15 at first and has been the DH in three times.
While the big league club is in definite need of a facelift, don't look for Franco to be called upon any time soon. The best thing for him right now is to continue to work on hitting Triple-A pitching and hope to develop a better consistency at the plate.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com.
