May 15, 2015
The future is now.
In the first of what will likely be of several in-season promotions, the Phillies have recalled third base prospect Maikel Franco from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. After the team sent third baseman Cody Asche down on Monday to get everyday reps in left field, general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told reporters that he hoped this would be a more permanent promotion for Franco, who was a September call-up last season.
When asked earlier this week about where Franco would hit in the lineup, manager Ryne Sandberg declined to speculate on where the 22-year-old would bat in the lineup.
In 33 games with the IronPigs this season, Franco hit .355 with 12 doubles, one triple, four homers and 24 RBIs. His OPS of .923 ranks fifth in the International League.
"This was a baseball decision based on Maikel's development and performance. We believe he is ready for the next step," Amaro said.
Franco is expected to play third base tonight when the team faces the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. To make room on the roster, the Phillies' outrighted righty Dustin McGowan to Triple-A. McGowan was 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA for the Phillies.
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Had Franco made the team out of spring training, he would have been eligible for free agency following the 2020 season. By waiting until today to recall him, the Phillies pushed that date to 2021.
"This was a baseball decision based on Maikel's development and performance," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said in a statement. "We believe he is ready for the next step."
Franco is the Phillies' No. 3-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com -- behind shortstop J.P. Crawford and pitcher Aaron Nola -- and the 54th-ranked prospect in all of baseball.
He struggled as a September call-up last season, hitting .179 in 16 games.
