Wayne Franklin
Encyclopedia
Gary Wayne Franklin is an American Major League Baseball
pitcher for the independent Chico Outlaws
of the Golden Baseball League
. He previously played for the Houston Astros
(-), Milwaukee Brewers
(-), San Francisco Giants
, New York Yankees
, and Atlanta Braves
. Franklin bats and throws left-handed
.
Franklin was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 36th round of the amateur draft. He signed with the team on June 8, 1996, just four days after being drafted.
Wayne began his professional career with the Los Angeles farm team the Yakima Bears
in 1996, where he went 1-0 with 1 save
and a 2.52 ERA
. The following year, he pitched mostly as a reliever for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats
. He did, however, make 7 starts, and he finished the season with a 5-3 record, a 3.11 ERA, and 2 saves. In , playing with the Vero Beach Dodgers, Franklin earned a career-high 9 wins and he also notched 10 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 86.2 innings pitched
. However, it was his last season in the Dodgers organization. On December 14, Franklin was drafted by the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 Draft
.
After going 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA in 12 games for Single-A Kissimmee, Franklin was called up to the Jackson Generals in May of . After being called up, Franklin posted a 3-1 record with 20 saves and a 1.61 ERA. He was named to the Texas League
All-Star team, and placed 2nd in relievers with a .178 opponent batting average. Franklin began the 2000 season with the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs
, but was called up after 48 games when he put up a 3-3 record with a 3.63 ERA. He made made his big league debut with the Astros on July 24 against the Cincinnati Reds
. He recorded a 2.79 ERA in 16 appearances and only gave up 6 hits to 34 batters faced. In 2001, Wayne was on the Houston Opening Day roster and made 11 relief outings, but was sent down to the Zephyrs on May 5 after putting up a 6.75 earned run average. With New Orleans, he went 2-1 with 51 strikeout
s in 41 relief appearances.
In 2002, Franklin became a starter, going 13-9 with a 3.17 ERA for the Zephyrs and leading the Pacific Coast League
with 163 K's. On September 3, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Keith Ginter
to complete an earlier deal involving Mark Loretta
. He debuted for the Brewers on September 19 against the St. Louis Cardinals
. Wayne ended the year with a 2-1 record, a 2.62 ERA, and 17 strikeouts in 4 starts for Milwaukee. After going 10-13 with a 5.50 earned run average and a career-high 116 strikeouts for the Brewers in 2003, Franklin was traded to the San Francisco Giants
along with Leo Estrella, for Carlos Villanueva and Glenn Woolard on March 30, 2004.
Franklin was converted back to a reliever in 2004 for San Francisco after having led the league in home runs allowed the year before, going 2-1 with a 6.39 ERA and 40 strikeouts. He notched his first victory with the Giants on May 21 vs. the Montréal Expos
. On July 28 against the San Diego Padres
, Wayne was removed from the game with a lower back strain. Franklin was activated from the disabled list
on August 18, in between games of a double header against the Expos. He made a spot start for San Francisco in the nightcap, only giving up one run in six innings to earn the victory. Franklin returned to the bullpen for his final 6 appearances, recording a 4.26 ERA. He played in the Venezuelan Winter League in the offseason.
On March 30, 2005, Franklin was released by the Giants after appearing in 8 spring training
games for the team. He was picked up by the New York Yankees as a free agent
on April 4. He had posted a 2-3 record and a save in 46 games with the AAA Columbus Clippers
before his contract was purchased by the Yankees on July 1. He made five appearances out of the bullpen before being demoted to Columbus on July 20. Wayne was granted free agency at the season's end.
Franklin signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 11, 2006, and was invited to spring training. He was assigned to minor league camp on March 28.
On August 6, Franklin's contract was purchased by the Atlanta Braves
from AAA Richmond
. He made his first appearance for the Braves on August 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies
.
On December 5, 2006, Franklin signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
.
In 2007, Franklin signed with the York Revolution
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
and later signed with Uni-President Lions
of Chinese Professional Baseball League
in Taiwan
.
On January 24, , Franklin signed with the York Revolution
. Franklin has re-signed with York for the 2009 season. And was released Mid-Season by the Revs. Shortly after, Franklin signed with the Outlaws.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher for the independent Chico Outlaws
Chico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
. He previously played for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
(-), Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
(-), San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
, and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Franklin bats and throws left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
.
Franklin was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 36th round of the amateur draft. He signed with the team on June 8, 1996, just four days after being drafted.
Wayne began his professional career with the Los Angeles farm team the Yakima Bears
Yakima Bears
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball team in Yakima, Washington. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem...
in 1996, where he went 1-0 with 1 save
Save (sport)
In baseball, a save is credited to a pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under certain prescribed circumstances. The number of saves, or percentage of save opportunities successfully converted, is an oft-cited statistic of relief pitchers...
and a 2.52 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
. The following year, he pitched mostly as a reliever for the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats
Savannah Sand Gnats
The Savannah Sand Gnats are a minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia and are a member of the A-level South Atlantic League. Since the 2007 season, the Sand Gnats have been an affiliate of the New York Mets.-History:...
. He did, however, make 7 starts, and he finished the season with a 5-3 record, a 3.11 ERA, and 2 saves. In , playing with the Vero Beach Dodgers, Franklin earned a career-high 9 wins and he also notched 10 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 86.2 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. However, it was his last season in the Dodgers organization. On December 14, Franklin was drafted by the Houston Astros in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
After going 3-0 with a 1.53 ERA in 12 games for Single-A Kissimmee, Franklin was called up to the Jackson Generals in May of . After being called up, Franklin posted a 3-1 record with 20 saves and a 1.61 ERA. He was named to the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star team, and placed 2nd in relievers with a .178 opponent batting average. Franklin began the 2000 season with the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
, but was called up after 48 games when he put up a 3-3 record with a 3.63 ERA. He made made his big league debut with the Astros on July 24 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He recorded a 2.79 ERA in 16 appearances and only gave up 6 hits to 34 batters faced. In 2001, Wayne was on the Houston Opening Day roster and made 11 relief outings, but was sent down to the Zephyrs on May 5 after putting up a 6.75 earned run average. With New Orleans, he went 2-1 with 51 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 41 relief appearances.
In 2002, Franklin became a starter, going 13-9 with a 3.17 ERA for the Zephyrs and leading the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
with 163 K's. On September 3, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers along with Keith Ginter
Keith Ginter
Milwaukee Brewers 2011Keith Michael Ginter is a former American Major League Baseball infielder now playing for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden Baseball League. Ginter is a graduate of Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California...
to complete an earlier deal involving Mark Loretta
Mark Loretta
Mark David Loretta is a retired Major League Baseball infielder. Loretta played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. He debuted for the Brewers on September 19 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Wayne ended the year with a 2-1 record, a 2.62 ERA, and 17 strikeouts in 4 starts for Milwaukee. After going 10-13 with a 5.50 earned run average and a career-high 116 strikeouts for the Brewers in 2003, Franklin was traded to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
along with Leo Estrella, for Carlos Villanueva and Glenn Woolard on March 30, 2004.
Franklin was converted back to a reliever in 2004 for San Francisco after having led the league in home runs allowed the year before, going 2-1 with a 6.39 ERA and 40 strikeouts. He notched his first victory with the Giants on May 21 vs. the Montréal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. On July 28 against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, Wayne was removed from the game with a lower back strain. Franklin was activated from the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
on August 18, in between games of a double header against the Expos. He made a spot start for San Francisco in the nightcap, only giving up one run in six innings to earn the victory. Franklin returned to the bullpen for his final 6 appearances, recording a 4.26 ERA. He played in the Venezuelan Winter League in the offseason.
On March 30, 2005, Franklin was released by the Giants after appearing in 8 spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
games for the team. He was picked up by the New York Yankees as a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on April 4. He had posted a 2-3 record and a save in 46 games with the AAA Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
before his contract was purchased by the Yankees on July 1. He made five appearances out of the bullpen before being demoted to Columbus on July 20. Wayne was granted free agency at the season's end.
Franklin signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on January 11, 2006, and was invited to spring training. He was assigned to minor league camp on March 28.
On August 6, Franklin's contract was purchased by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
from AAA Richmond
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
. He made his first appearance for the Braves on August 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
On December 5, 2006, Franklin signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
.
In 2007, Franklin signed with the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
and later signed with Uni-President Lions
Uni-President Lions
The Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions are a professional baseball team based in Tainan City, Taiwan. The organization is named after the Uni-President Corporation, one of Taiwan's largest conglomerate whose sub-company Uni-President Baseball Team Company oversees operations of the team...
of Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
On January 24, , Franklin signed with the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. Franklin has re-signed with York for the 2009 season. And was released Mid-Season by the Revs. Shortly after, Franklin signed with the Outlaws.