Ben Francisco

Ben Francisco - Outfielder
Age: 26 Height: 6'1" Weight: 190 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007 Buffalo	.318	95	377	60	120	27	2	12	51	36	66	22	.382	.496	.878
Career	.294	587	2252	373	661	152	19	65	301	209	364	121	.359	.464	.823

History: The Indians selected Francisco in the 5th round of the 2002 Draft out of UCLA. In 2002, he was named the Topps Minor League Player of the Year in the NY-Penn League (NYPL), an NYPL Postseason All Star, and named to Baseball America's Short Season All Star team. He won the NYPL batting title (.349), lead the league in runs scored (55), was third in stolen bases (22), third in on-base percentage (.416), fourth in slugging percentage (.502), second in hits, second in doubles, and fifth in extra base hits (28). Last year, Francisco was selected by the International League as a post season All-Star, and also was named a Topps Triple-A All -Star. Baseball America tabbed him as the Most Exciting Player in the International League last year.

Strengths & Opportunities: Francisco had a breakthrough season last year, where he went to Cleveland and caught the attention of many fans when he hit a walkoff homer in his first major league start, and in 62 major league at bats hit .274 with 3 HR, 12 RBI and had an .803 OPS. He had two hitting streaks of 15 games or more at Buffalo last year, and was consistent all season where he never had a bad month as he hit .319 in April (19 games), .366 in May (25 games), .284 in June (17 games), and .320 in August (31 games). Francisco won the 2007 batting title in the International League by hitting .318 (120-377) for the season, which was his second career minor league batting title (2002 NYPL as noted above).

Francisco's bat provides very good extra base hit production, and he has showed very good ability hitting the fastball, whether in Cleveland or the minors. He has proven he can hit anyone's fastball as they cannot get it by him or elevate it past him. He handled the up and down well of going back and forth from Cleveland to Buffalo last year, and is someone who has a lot of value for the Indians at the major league level. He is a versatile defender who can play all three outfield positions well. His speed is average, but he is an excellent baserunner as his instincts on the basepaths lead to many of his stolen bases. The Indians were impressed with his play last spring training and during the short time he was called up, and believe he is capable of helping them at the major league level right now.

Francisco is one of the most under-rated players in the system who has always put up good numbers and has some good attributes, but because of his age and no outstanding tools he often gets overlooked. Still, all he has ever done is hit at every level, from short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley to the major leagues. While the Indians love his bat, they feel he would be further along if not for several trips to the disabled list during his first few years in the farm system. In 2003, he missed the first two months of the season after undergoing hand surgery (hamate bone) in spring training, and then in 2005 he missed most of the first two months of the season because of a sprained ligament in his left thumb.

While he is capable of helping the Indians right now, the Indians would like to see Francisco become more consistent defensively, which is something that is more easily accomplished in the minor leagues. He is a hard working individual, but he has been more passionate about hitting than he has about playing defense which is only natural. Improving his defense is something the Indians have challenged Francisco on, and he has welcomed the challenge. Francisco acknowledges that he has to improve his defense, and that he needs to work on being better prepared to face major league pitching.

Outlook: After an MVP season in Buffalo in 2006, it looked like Francisco would be lost in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft until the Indians used their last position player slot on the 40-man roster for him that offseason. The move may turn out to be one of the best, unheralded decisions this organization has made in the last few years, as Francisco surely would have been gobbled up in the draft, and most likely would have stuck with the team that drafted him given his advanced approach and major league readiness. Francisco has little to prove in Buffalo as he has been there for two full seasons in 2006 and 2007 and won MVPs each year, and he also spent a small portion of the 2005 season there, but it looks like barring a trade to clear up some room in a crowed major league outfield that Francisco will return to Buffalo to start the 2008 season and be the first outfielder called up when a need arises.

Video: Francisco at the plate.

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