Frank Francisco

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #28 prospect in 2004
  Francisco ranked as the No. 10 prospect in a weak Red Sox system following his breakthrough 2001 season. Since then he has gone through a few changes, switching organizations twice through trades and having his age revised upward nine months. He also switched from relieving to starting in mid-2002. Part of the Carl Everett trade with the White Sox, Francisco continues to attract attention and tease scouts with his power arsenal. His inconsistency prompts scouts to compare his plus fastball/slider combination to Octavio Dotel's one day and turn him in as a fringe prospect the next. When Francisco is on he can be electric, lighting up radar guns with 93-96 mph readings while also showing a plus slider and an occasional good changeup. But too often he struggles with his fastball location, and his velocity will dip to 90 mph because he's unable to repeat his delivery and release point. He was wildly inconsistent after joining the Rangers, but his flaws are correctable and he has two big league pitches. He'll return to the bullpen this year in Double-A, where he has a career 7.54 ERA.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #29 prospect in 2003
  Francisco had a stressful year in 2002 and didn't handle it well. He was outstanding the season before, starring as a low Class A closer, and he ended up as the No. 10 prospect in the Red Sox organization--admittedly a much thinner system than the White Sox. Perhaps because Francisco turned out to be nine months older than previously listed, the Red Sox skipped him past high Class A. That didn't work, as Francisco self-destructed in Double-A because of wildness. He re-established himself after a demotion, but then pitched poorly as a starter after he came to Chicago in a trade for Bobby Howry. Francisco has moved back and forth from the rotation to the bullpen during his career and could be heading back to relief in 2003. He's better in that role because his lack of a changeup isn't as much of a drawback. While Francisco can hit 95 mph and has a curveball, he can't be successful working behind in the count. The White Sox will give him lots of attention in spring training but may not have much patience if he can't throw more strikes.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #10 prospect in 2002
  Francisco is the fourth player in the top 10 signed out of the Dominican Republic by Levy Ochoa. He missed all of 1997 and most of 2000 with injuries, and he required elbow surgery before last season. He strained his shoulder in April but was dominant once he returned. Francisco is all about power, throwing a 92-95 mph fastball and a 78-80 mph curveball. Once he got both pitches working in tandem last year, it was all over for South Atlantic League hitters. In the final two months, he averaged 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings while opponents hit .124 against him. Repeated attempts to teach Francisco a changeup failed, which is why he's limited to the bullpen. He's probably 30 pounds heavier than his listed weight of 180 pounds. His body could go south in a hurry. He'll have to throw more strikes, though his command improved in July and August. Francisco will start 2002 in high Class A, where he may get his first regular opportunity as a closer, and could reach Double-A by the end of the season. He's two or three years away from Boston.