Kohl Franklin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #29 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A nephew of former all-star closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl signed with the Cubs for an overslot $540,000 bonus and showed promise at the short-season levels, but he missed 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and all of 2021 with a strained oblique. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly three years in 2022 and showed enhanced stuff, but he struggled with his control and posted a 6.88 ERA in 23 starts at High-A South Bend.
  
  Scouting Report: Franklin has filled out his projectable frame and now possesses some of the best stuff in the Cubs organization. He powers his fastball 95-99 mph downhill out of his tall frame and has added velocity and bite to his spike curveball to make it an above-average pitch at 79-83 mph. Franklin's changeup has also gotten firmer in the mid-80s, but it has lost movement with the added velocity and regressed to an average pitch. Franklin's stuff is loud, but his fastball command is extremely poor and his feel for pitching is raw. He frequently falls behind batters and throws the wrong pitch in the wrong counts, leading to short, ineffective outings.
  
  The Future: The Cubs hope Franklin was just rusty after two missed seasons and that his command and feel will improve with experience. He'll try to prove them right in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 30
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #18 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Franklin’s projectable frame and athletic delivery enticed the Cubs to draft him in the sixth round in 2018 and give him an above-slot $540,000 signing bonus. He showed well during his pro debut at short-season Eugene, but injuries and the coronavirus pandemic have largely kept him off the mound in three of the last four seasons. He missed most of his senior year with a broken foot, lost 2020 due to the pandemic and missed all of last season with a strained oblique.
  
  Scouting Report: The nephew of former closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl throws three pitches for strikes out of a loose, athletic delivery and has room to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and projects to tick up as he gets stronger. He pairs his heater with a potentially plus changeup in the 80-84 mph range and an average spike curveball in the mid 70s that shows solid depth. Franklin pounds the strike zone and projects to have above-average control. His biggest question is his durability—he has thrown just 50.2 innings in four professional seasons.
  
  The Future: Franklin began throwing bullpen sessions last fall and should be ready for 2022 spring training. He has mid-rotation potential but has to show he can stay on the mound.
  
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #7 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of 12-year major league pitcher Ryan Franklin and came from the same Oklahoma high school that produced Brad Penny and Archie Bradley. The Cubs liked his size and pedigree and drafted him in the sixth round in 2018 despite the fact he missed most of his senior year with a broken foot. Franklin signed for an above-slot $540,000 bonus and saw his stuff jump as he climbed to low Class A South Bend the following summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Franklin checks all the boxes for a young pitcher with a projectable 6-foot-4 frame, an athletic delivery and three pitches he can throw for strikes. He pounds the strike zone with a 92-95 mph fastball and shows advanced feel for an 80-84 changeup. His biggest development has been his curveball, now a big breaker at 75-77 mph with increased depth that gets batters swinging and missing over the top. Franklin’s frame and athleticism provide optimism he will add velocity and develop above-average control in time. He’s thrown just 50.2 professional innings and needs to show he can maintain his stuff and command over an expanded workload.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs believe Franklin has the upside of a mid-rotation starter. He’s on track for full-season ball in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #13 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of Ryan Franklin, who pitched for 12 seasons in the big leagues. Kohl missed much of his draft year at Owasso (Okla.) HS with a broken foot, but the Cubs believed enough in his projectability to draft him in the sixth round and sign him away from his commitment to Oklahoma for $540,000.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The projectability the Cubs saw from Franklin started to take hold in 2019. After throwing his fastball 88-92 mph in high school, Franklin now sits in the low 90s and bumped as high as 97 in his first full season. Besides his natural growth, Franklin found the extra velocity by learning to use his legs more in his delivery. His 80-84 mph changeup projects as a solid-average offering because of its fade and the conviction with which Franklin throws the pitch. His mid-70s curveball is the key to his development. He wasn't allowed to throw the pitch until his senior year in high school, and the Cubs have toyed with the pitch to optimize it for his delivery. They settled on a spike grip and watched as the pitch gained four to five more inches of depth as a result.
  
  THE FUTURE: Franklin finished the year at low Class A South Bend and is likely to return to the level in 2020. His next step is refining his command and throwing more quality strikes. Franklin has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #13 prospect in 2019
  Franklin, the nephew of former big leaguer Ryan Franklin, was drafted on the strength of a loose arm and a frame with plenty of projection remaining. He’s begun to fill out over the last 18 months and has seen gains in his stuff as a result. He now operates with a low-90s fastball that touched 95 mph this season and could have room for even more velocity as his body matures. His delivery features a clean arm stroke and above-average speed generated by a broad-shouldered frame. The ace of the Eugene staff before a late-season promotion to low Class A South Bend, Franklin backs up his fastball with a mid-70s curveball and a sinking, low-80s changeup. Both offspeed pitches project as average, though the changeup is a bit ahead of the curveball, which was a big point of development this season. He figures to fit as a back-end starter if he reaches his ceiling.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A nephew of former all-star closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl signed with the Cubs for an overslot $540,000 bonus and showed promise at the short-season levels, but he missed 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and all of 2021 with a strained oblique. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly three years in 2022 and showed enhanced stuff, but he struggled with his control and posted a 6.88 ERA in 23 starts at High-A South Bend.
  
  Scouting Report: Franklin has filled out his projectable frame and now possesses some of the best stuff in the Cubs organization. He powers his fastball 95-99 mph downhill out of his tall frame and has added velocity and bite to his spike curveball to make it an above-average pitch at 79-83 mph. Franklin's changeup has also gotten firmer in the mid-80s, but it has lost movement with the added velocity and regressed to an average pitch. Franklin's stuff is loud, but his fastball command is extremely poor and his feel for pitching is raw. He frequently falls behind batters and throws the wrong pitch in the wrong counts, leading to short, ineffective outings.
  
  The Future: The Cubs hope Franklin was just rusty after two missed seasons and that his command and feel will improve with experience. He'll try to prove them right in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 30
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: A nephew of former all-star closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl signed with the Cubs for an overslot $540,000 bonus and showed promise at the short-season levels, but he missed 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic and all of 2021 with a strained oblique. He returned to the mound for the first time in nearly three years in 2022 and showed enhanced stuff, but he struggled with his control and posted a 6.88 ERA in 23 starts at High-A South Bend.
  
  Scouting Report: Franklin has filled out his projectable frame and now possesses some of the best stuff in the Cubs organization. He powers his fastball 95-99 mph downhill out of his tall frame and has added velocity and bite to his spike curveball to make it an above-average pitch at 79-83 mph. Franklin's changeup has also gotten firmer in the mid-80s, but it has lost movement with the added velocity and regressed to an average pitch. Franklin's stuff is loud, but his fastball command is extremely poor and his feel for pitching is raw. He frequently falls behind batters and throws the wrong pitch in the wrong counts, leading to short, ineffective outings.
  
  The Future: The Cubs hope Franklin was just rusty after two missed seasons and that his command and feel will improve with experience. He'll try to prove them right in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 30
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Franklin&#39s projectable frame and athletic delivery enticed the Cubs to draft him in the sixth round in 2018 and give him an above-slot $540,000 signing bonus. He showed well during his pro debut at short-season Eugene, but injuries and the coronavirus pandemic have largely kept him off the mound in three of the last four seasons. He missed most of his senior year with a broken foot, lost 2020 due to the pandemic and missed all of last season with a strained oblique.
  
  Scouting Report: The nephew of former closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl throws three pitches for strikes out of a loose, athletic delivery and has room to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and projects to tick up as he gets stronger. He pairs his heater with a potentially plus changeup in the 80-84 mph range and an average spike curveball in the mid 70s that shows solid depth. Franklin pounds the strike zone and projects to have above-average control. His biggest question is his durability—he has thrown just 50.2 innings in four professional seasons.
  
  The Future: Franklin began throwing bullpen sessions last fall and should be ready for 2022 spring training. He has mid-rotation potential but has to show he can stay on the mound.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Franklin’s projectable frame and athletic delivery enticed the Cubs to draft him in the sixth round in 2018 and give him an above-slot $540,000 signing bonus. He showed well during his pro debut at short-season Eugene, but injuries and the coronavirus pandemic have largely kept him off the mound in three of the last four seasons. He missed most of his senior year with a broken foot, lost 2020 due to the pandemic and missed all of last season with a strained oblique.
  
  Scouting Report: The nephew of former closer Ryan Franklin, Kohl throws three pitches for strikes out of a loose, athletic delivery and has room to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame. His fastball sits 92-95 mph and projects to tick up as he gets stronger. He pairs his heater with a potentially plus changeup in the 80-84 mph range and an average spike curveball in the mid 70s that shows solid depth. Franklin pounds the strike zone and projects to have above-average control. His biggest question is his durability—he has thrown just 50.2 innings in four professional seasons.
  
  The Future: Franklin began throwing bullpen sessions last fall and should be ready for 2022 spring training. He has mid-rotation potential but has to show he can stay on the mound.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of 12-year major league pitcher Ryan Franklin and came from the same Oklahoma high school that produced Brad Penny and Archie Bradley. The Cubs liked his size and pedigree and drafted him in the sixth round in 2018 despite the fact he missed most of his senior year with a broken foot. Franklin signed for an above-slot $540,000 bonus and saw his stuff jump as he climbed to low Class A South Bend the following summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Franklin checks all the boxes for a young pitcher with a projectable 6-foot-4 frame, an athletic delivery and three pitches he can throw for strikes. He pounds the strike zone with a 92-95 mph fastball and shows advanced feel for an 80-84 changeup. His biggest development has been his curveball, now a big breaker at 75-77 mph with increased depth that gets batters swinging and missing over the top. Franklin's frame and athleticism provide optimism he will add velocity and develop above-average control in time. He's thrown just 50.2 professional innings and needs to show he can maintain his stuff and command over an expanded workload.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs believe Franklin has the upside of a mid-rotation starter. He's on track for full-season ball in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of 12-year major league pitcher Ryan Franklin and came from the same Oklahoma high school that produced Brad Penny and Archie Bradley. The Cubs liked his size and pedigree and drafted him in the sixth round in 2018 despite the fact he missed most of his senior year with a broken foot. Franklin signed for an above-slot $540,000 bonus and saw his stuff jump as he climbed to low Class A South Bend the following summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Franklin checks all the boxes for a young pitcher with a projectable 6-foot-4 frame, an athletic delivery and three pitches he can throw for strikes. He pounds the strike zone with a 92-95 mph fastball and shows advanced feel for an 80-84 changeup. His biggest development has been his curveball, now a big breaker at 75-77 mph with increased depth that gets batters swinging and missing over the top. Franklin’s frame and athleticism provide optimism he will add velocity and develop above-average control in time. He’s thrown just 50.2 professional innings and needs to show he can maintain his stuff and command over an expanded workload.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs believe Franklin has the upside of a mid-rotation starter. He’s on track for full-season ball in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Changeup: 60. Curveball: 50. Control: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of 12-year major league pitcher Ryan Franklin and came from the same Oklahoma high school that produced Brad Penny and Archie Bradley. The Cubs liked his size and pedigree and drafted him in the sixth round in 2018 despite the fact he missed most of his senior year with a broken foot. Franklin signed for an above-slot $540,000 bonus and saw his stuff jump as he climbed to low Class A South Bend the following summer.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Franklin checks all the boxes for a young pitcher with a projectable 6-foot-4 frame, an athletic delivery and three pitches he can throw for strikes. He pounds the strike zone with a 92-95 mph fastball and shows advanced feel for an 80-84 changeup. His biggest development has been his curveball, now a big breaker at 75-77 mph with increased depth that gets batters swinging and missing over the top. Franklin’s frame and athleticism provide optimism he will add velocity and develop above-average control in time. He’s thrown just 50.2 professional innings and needs to show he can maintain his stuff and command over an expanded workload.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs believe Franklin has the upside of a mid-rotation starter. He’s on track for full-season ball in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of Ryan Franklin, who pitched for 12 seasons in the big leagues. Kohl missed much of his draft year at Owasso (Okla.) HS with a broken foot, but the Cubs believed enough in his projectability to draft him in the sixth round and sign him away from his commitment to Oklahoma for $540,000.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The projectability the Cubs saw from Franklin started to take hold in 2019. After throwing his fastball 88-92 mph in high school, Franklin now sits in the low 90s and bumped as high as 97 in his first full season. Besides his natural growth, Franklin found the extra velocity by learning to use his legs more in his delivery. His 80-84 mph changeup projects as a solid-average offering because of its fade and the conviction with which Franklin throws the pitch. His mid-70s curveball is the key to his development. He wasn’t allowed to throw the pitch until his senior year in high school, and the Cubs have toyed with the pitch to optimize it for his delivery. They settled on a spike grip and watched as the pitch gained four to five more inches of depth as a result.
  
  THE FUTURE: Franklin finished the year at low Class A South Bend and is likely to return to the level in 2020. His next step is refining his command and throwing more quality strikes. Franklin has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Franklin is the nephew of Ryan Franklin, who pitched for 12 seasons in the big leagues. Kohl missed much of his draft year at Owasso (Okla.) HS with a broken foot, but the Cubs believed enough in his projectability to draft him in the sixth round and sign him away from his commitment to Oklahoma for $540,000.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The projectability the Cubs saw from Franklin started to take hold in 2019. After throwing his fastball 88-92 mph in high school, Franklin now sits in the low 90s and bumped as high as 97 in his first full season. Besides his natural growth, Franklin found the extra velocity by learning to use his legs more in his delivery. His 80-84 mph changeup projects as a solid-average offering because of its fade and the conviction with which Franklin throws the pitch. His mid-70s curveball is the key to his development. He wasn't allowed to throw the pitch until his senior year in high school, and the Cubs have toyed with the pitch to optimize it for his delivery. They settled on a spike grip and watched as the pitch gained four to five more inches of depth as a result.
  
  THE FUTURE: Franklin finished the year at low Class A South Bend and is likely to return to the level in 2020. His next step is refining his command and throwing more quality strikes. Franklin has the ceiling of a No. 4 starter.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Franklin, the nephew of former big leaguer Ryan Franklin, was drafted on the strength of a loose arm and a frame with plenty of projection remaining. He’s begun to fill out over the last 18 months and has seen gains in his stuff as a result. He now operates with a low-90s fastball that touched 95 mph this season and could have room for even more velocity as his body matures. His delivery features a clean arm stroke and above-average speed generated by a broad-shouldered frame. The ace of the Eugene staff before a late-season promotion to low Class A South Bend, Franklin backs up his fastball with a mid-70s curveball and a sinking, low-80s changeup. Both offspeed pitches project as average, though the changeup is a bit ahead of the curveball, which was a big point of development this season. He figures to fit as a back-end starter if he reaches his ceiling.