The Phillies will get Maikel Franco back in time for this weekend’s series in Philadelphia against the Miami Marlins, according to Daily News beat writer Ryan Lawrence.
Franco has been sidelined with a broken wrist since Aug. 11. A return to the majors before the end of the season seemed unlikely for the 22-year-old, but he has looked strong swinging the bat in the team’s facility down in Clearwater. Manager Pete Mackanin has previously said that Franco wouldn’t return unless he was “100 percent healthy.” But from what he’s seen from Clearwater, Franco looks healthy and ready for big league action.
“They’ve been sending us videos of his at-bats and he looks fine,” Mackanin said, via Philly.com. “He’s swinging the bat with authority. He looks fine.”
Franco would join the team Thursday and be available to play Friday. The team still intends on sending the third baseman to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball during the off-season, but getting him at-bats against major league pitching beforehand should help the third baseman shake off any rust.
“I think it would be good for him to finish up playing the last three games of the season,” Mackanin said. “Feeling good leaving here, going to play some winter ball, and then be ready for next year. We could always use another bat in the lineup.”
Without Franco in the lineup, the Phillies have gone 14-29, but have managed to score about five runs per game. Before going down with the wrist injury, Franco was working his way into National League Rookie of the Year conversations by posting a slash line of .277/.340/.490 to go along with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs.
