TAMPA, Fla. – Coming into spring training, Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg was excited about seeing Maikel Franco swing the bat.
And why not?
Franco’s bat sizzled in winter ball. He hit .272 with an .805 OPS for the Gigantes de Cibao in 38 games during the regular season, then went on a tear and hit .337 with six doubles, four homers and 16 RBIs in 22 playoff games to lead his club to the league title and a spot in the Caribbean World Series.
But the sizzle has turned to a fizzle in the Grapefruit League. Franco has just six singles in 30 at-bats (.200). He has not drawn a walk and struck out four times.
“I don't know if there's something about big-league camp or what, but after a very good winter ball of swinging the bat, he's struggled,” Sandberg said. “He's struggled as far as having consistent at-bats, having a good approach and putting together good at-bats. He looks like he's trying to do too much. He looks like he's over-swinging.”
The 22-year-old corner infielder also struggled in a big-league cameo in September. He hit .179 (10 for 56) with just two doubles in 16 games. He struck out 13 times and drew just one walk. All this after hitting .324 with 11 homers, 47 RBIs and a .924 OPS over his final 55 games at Triple A.
It’s not unusual for a young player to press and try too hard when he's seeking to impress. Sandberg and the team’s hitting coaches have talked to Franco about relaxing and simplifying his approach. They’d like to see him try to use the middle of the field and not over-swing.
“It's more about just cutting down the swing and looking for solid contact, making that a mindset goal rather than some power and home runs,” Sandberg said. “Now, in winter ball, he did swing for power and had home runs. I just wonder if he's looking for too much too soon early in this camp when it should be more about fine-tuning your swing and having a good approach and having good, solid contact. That's more of the approach that's being talked to him about.
“He needs to make some adjustments and really be ready for the season with a different approach to really get off to a good start.”
Even before his struggles this spring, Franco appeared headed back to Triple A for the start of the season. It seems like a sure thing now.
Phillies officials remain very high on Franco and project him as the middle-of-the-order, right-handed power bat they’ve long desired. He is still in big-league camp. He did not start against the Yankees on Thursday night, but is scheduled to be the designated hitter against the Pirates in Bradenton on Friday.
Maybe that will be his breakout day.