Just days after sending third baseman Cody Asche to Lehigh Valley to learn a new position, the Phillies called up third baseman Maikel Franco, the club announced Friday. A top prospect in the organization and the club's hoped third baseman for the foreseeable future, the 22-year-old Franco was hitting .355 (50-for-144) with 12 doubles, four home runs and 24 RBIs with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Franco could have been called up earlier, but the club likely saw little reason to rush him in a losing season, and waited in order to keep him under team control longer. Since he spent 40 days in the minors this season, Franco will not be eligible for free agency until 2021.
In a corresponding move, the Phillies out-righted reliever Dustin McGowan to Lehigh Valley.
Franco could have been called up earlier, but the club likely saw little reason to rush him in a losing season, and waited in order to keep him under team control longer. Since he spent 40 days in the minors this season, Franco will not be eligible for free agency until 2021.
In a corresponding move, the Phillies out-righted reliever Dustin McGowan to Lehigh Valley.
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