Nick Franklin (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Nicholas E. "Nick" Franklin (born March 02, 1991 in Longwood, Florida
) is an American professional baseball
shortstop
in the Seattle Mariners
organization. He was drafted in the first round, 27 pick overall, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft
. He attended Lake Brantley High School
where he won numerous awards, including being named the player of the year by the Orlando Sentinel
in 2009. Franklin made his professional debut in 2009, playing at two different levels
in the Mariners' organization. Franklin is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed. He stands at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) and weighs 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
, which played in Canada
and Venezuela
. Franklin attended Lake Brantley High School
. He took two months off of baseball after his junior
season to weight train. On April 16, 2009 Orlando Sentinel
named Franklin the "Boy Athlete of the Week". Franklin was named the "Orlando Sentinel Baseball Player of the Year" in 2009 after he batted
.538 with 11 home runs. During his time in high school, a professional baseball scout compared Franklin's skills to that of a "switch-hitting
Michael Young".
. On August 16, 2009 the Mariners signed Franklin to a contract with a $1.28 million signing bonus
. After signing, Franklin got to meet with members of the 2009 Mariners
, which included Ken Griffey, Jr.
Franklin began his professional career in 2009, splitting the season between the rookie-league AZL Mariners of the Arizona League
, and the Class-A Short-Season Everett AquaSox
of the Northwest League
. In the Arizona league, Franklin batted .302 with six runs
, 13 hits
, two doubles
, one home run, and four runs batted in (RBIs) in 10 games. With the AquaSox, Franklin batted .400 with four runs, eight hits, two doubles, one triple
, and two RBIs in six games.
Before the 2010 season, Baseball America
named Franklin the seventh best prospect in the Mariners' organization. Franklin began the 2010 season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings
of the Midwest League
. On April 11, Franklin hit two home runs in the same game. Also in that game, Franklin was a single
shy of hitting for the cycle
. With the LumberKings that year, Franklin has batted .281 with 89 runs, 144 hits, 22 doubles, seven triples, 23 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. He also played one game with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
that season, getting two hits in three at-bats. At the end of the season, Baseball American named him as the sixth best prospect in the Midwest League.
, calls Franklin a "versatile" player who can play the infield
, the outfield
, and even pitch
. Jonathan Mayo, also of MLB.com, said that Franklin has the potential for power, and also noted that "[Franklin's] got wiry strength and decent speed". MLB.com rated Franklin a "solid defender" and his arm strength "average". Seattle Mariners' general manager
Jack Zduriencik
and scouting director Tom McNamara were reportedly impressed by Franklin's dedication to the game of baseball. On January 25, 2011 MLB.com revealed their top 50 best prospects in baseball list, in which Franklin was listed as the 38th best prospect in Major League Baseball.
Longwood, Florida
Longwood is a city in Seminole County, Florida, USA. The population was 13,745 at the 2000 census. As of 2006, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 13,491. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area....
) is an American professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
in the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
organization. He was drafted in the first round, 27 pick overall, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft
2009 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was held June 9 to June 11 at the MLB Network Studios in New York City.The drafting order is as follows:-First-round selections:Key-Supplemental first-round selections:From Baseball America...
. He attended Lake Brantley High School
Lake Brantley High School
Lake Brantley High School is located in Altamonte Springs, Florida, an urban community approximately 13 miles north of Orlando, Florida, USA. It is a public high school serving grade levels 9-12 in Seminole County, FL, operated by Seminole County Public Schools...
where he won numerous awards, including being named the player of the year by the Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
in 2009. Franklin made his professional debut in 2009, playing at two different levels
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in the Mariners' organization. Franklin is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed. He stands at 6 in 1 in (1.85 m) and weighs 170 pounds (77.1 kg).
Amateur career
In 2007 and 2008, Franklin played for the USA Baseball Youth National TeamUnited States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
, which played in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Franklin attended Lake Brantley High School
Lake Brantley High School
Lake Brantley High School is located in Altamonte Springs, Florida, an urban community approximately 13 miles north of Orlando, Florida, USA. It is a public high school serving grade levels 9-12 in Seminole County, FL, operated by Seminole County Public Schools...
. He took two months off of baseball after his junior
Junior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
season to weight train. On April 16, 2009 Orlando Sentinel
Orlando Sentinel
The Orlando Sentinel is the primary newspaper of the Orlando, Florida region. It was founded in 1876. The Sentinel is owned by Tribune Company and is overseen by the Chicago Tribune. As of 2005, the Sentinel’s president and publisher was Kathleen Waltz; she announced her resignation in February 2008...
named Franklin the "Boy Athlete of the Week". Franklin was named the "Orlando Sentinel Baseball Player of the Year" in 2009 after he batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.538 with 11 home runs. During his time in high school, a professional baseball scout compared Franklin's skills to that of a "switch-hitting
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
Michael Young".
Professional career
Franklin was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. Before being drafted, Franklin committed to play baseball at Auburn UniversityAuburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
. On August 16, 2009 the Mariners signed Franklin to a contract with a $1.28 million signing bonus
Signing bonus
A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive to the employee, e.g., if the annual salary is lower than he or she desires...
. After signing, Franklin got to meet with members of the 2009 Mariners
2009 Seattle Mariners season
The 2009 Seattle Mariners season was the 33rd season in franchise history. They improved upon a disappointing 2008 season, where they finished last in the American League West with a 61-101 record. They finished 3rd in the AL West with an 85-77 record, a 24 win improvement. The 2009 Mariners...
, which included Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
Franklin began his professional career in 2009, splitting the season between the rookie-league AZL Mariners of the Arizona League
Arizona League
The Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
, and the Class-A Short-Season Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. In the Arizona league, Franklin batted .302 with six runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, 13 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, two doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, one home run, and four runs batted in (RBIs) in 10 games. With the AquaSox, Franklin batted .400 with four runs, eight hits, two doubles, one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, and two RBIs in six games.
Before the 2010 season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
named Franklin the seventh best prospect in the Mariners' organization. Franklin began the 2010 season with the Class-A Clinton LumberKings
Clinton LumberKings
The Clinton LumberKings are a Midwest League Class A minor league baseball team based in Clinton, Iowa, USA, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners.-History:Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1954 and is the oldest franchise in the league...
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. On April 11, Franklin hit two home runs in the same game. Also in that game, Franklin was a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
shy of hitting for the cycle
Hitting for the cycle
In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game. Collecting the hits in that order is known as a "natural cycle". Cycles are uncommon in Major League Baseball , occurring 293 times since the first by Curry...
. With the LumberKings that year, Franklin has batted .281 with 89 runs, 144 hits, 22 doubles, seven triples, 23 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. He also played one game with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
that season, getting two hits in three at-bats. At the end of the season, Baseball American named him as the sixth best prospect in the Midwest League.
Scouting report
Jim Street, reporter for MLB.comMLB.com
MLB.com is the official site of Major League Baseball and is overseen by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, L.P. . MLB.com is a source of baseball-related information, including baseball news, statistics, and sports columns...
, calls Franklin a "versatile" player who can play the infield
Infield
Infield is a widely used term in sports terminology, its meaning depends on the sport in which it is used.- In baseball :In baseball the baseball diamond plus a region beyond it , has both grass and dirt, in contrast to the more distant, usually grass-covered outfield...
, the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, and even pitch
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. Jonathan Mayo, also of MLB.com, said that Franklin has the potential for power, and also noted that "[Franklin's] got wiry strength and decent speed". MLB.com rated Franklin a "solid defender" and his arm strength "average". Seattle Mariners' general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Jack Zduriencik
Jack Zduriencik
John A. “Jack” Zduriencik is the General Manager of Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners.-Career:Jack Zduriencik began his career in professional baseball as a second baseman in the Chicago White Sox farm system...
and scouting director Tom McNamara were reportedly impressed by Franklin's dedication to the game of baseball. On January 25, 2011 MLB.com revealed their top 50 best prospects in baseball list, in which Franklin was listed as the 38th best prospect in Major League Baseball.