Austin Franklin

Position: RHSP
Level: Class A
Affiliate: Bowling Green Hot Rods
League: Midwest League
Born: 10/02/1997 (Age: 26)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 215
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 3rd Rd., 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (TB)

Prospect Spotlight

The Rays’ third-rounder in 2016 was chugging along through his first year in full-season ball before hitting the DL in July. Franklin didn’t get back into an official game after the injury and will miss most of 2019 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

He’s a well-proportioned 6-foot-3 with developing strength throughout. The fastball sits in the low-90s with average run, working with more control than true in-zone command at this point. Franklin’s mid-70s curve is the better of two off-speed pitches, as his 84-to-86 mph changeup still needs work. His max-ceiling is a back-rotation starter, but the lack of third pitch and time missed with injury won’t help. Realistically, Franklin could be a swingman or migrate to the ‘pen to rely more heavily on just a two-pitch mix.