Austin Franklin
| IP | 194 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 2.923 |
| WHIP | 1.216 |
| BB/9 | 3.619 |
| SO/9 | 8.165 |
- Full name Austin T. Franklin
- Born 10/02/1997 in Laurel Hill, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Paxton
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Drafted in the 3rd round (90th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 (signed for $597,500).
View Draft Report
Franklin, a Samford signee, has one of the better fastballs in the Florida prep class, as he consistently sits 90-95 mph and does a good job of locating his fastball armside and gloveside. His fastball has quality sink. Franklin's curveball has a chance to develop into an above-average offering as it will lock hitters up when he's locating it, although his struggles in direction and staying over the rubber lead to some inconsistency. He doesn't throw his changeup very often, but it's a promising pitch as well.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: The Rays loved Franklin's projectability and ceiling when they picked him in the 2016 draft. They put him on their typical development path as he spent his first full season in short-season ball. He was putting together a solid season in the Midwest League when he instead became another statistic in a rough year for Rays pitchers. Franklin blew out his elbow in mid-July.
Scouting Report: Before Franklin went down, he was showing all the makings of a solid back-of-the-rotation starter with an excellent pitcher's frame and three solid-average pitches. His 92-94 mph fastball, 11-to-5 curveball and changeup all generally sit around average, although he'd flash a plus curveball a few times in most outings and at his best his changeup will flash above-average too. His smooth delivery should allow him to eventually improve his below-average control into average control going forward.
The Future: Franklin's Tommy John surgery will likely sideline him for all of 2019. When he gets back on the mound in games that count in 2020, he could jump directly to high Class A. -
Franklin is one of the Rays' more underrated young pitchers with a high ceiling. He emerged as a high school senior in 2016 when he threw a pair of no-hitters and helped guide Paxton (Fla.) High to a district championship after his fastball velocity increased to the low 90s and touched 95 mph. The Rays drafted him in the third round and signed him for $597,500. Franklin bypassed Samford to sign with the Rays as a third-round pick, and has continued to hone his skills in pro ball while being moved conservatively through the system. He has a strong, athletic build and a short, easy arm action. He gets good downward trajectory with his heavy fastball that could add a little velocity as his body matures. While he works off his low-90s fastball, his best pitch is a hard, 11-to-5 curveball with a pronounced drop. His changeup has the potential to be above-average, and he's working on making the delivery of his offspeed pitches mirror that of his heater to create more deception. Franklin's greatest need centers on improving his fastball command and working ahead in the count. Franklin has the makings of a mid-rotation starter and should graduate to the full-season ranks at low Class A Bowling Green in 2018. -
After working more in the upper 80s as a rising senior, Franklin became one of the fastest risers in the 2016 draft class after he improved his fastball velocity, sitting in the low 90s and consistently peaking at 95 mph. Franklin's upward trajectory resulted in the Rays drafting him in the third round and signing him for $597,500 to forgo a Samford commitment. He continued his progress after the draft as well, with his curveball adding velocity and power. Franklin has a very short arm action and a sturdy pitcher's frame with wide shoulders and a high waist. He has a tendency to rush off the rubber and swing his front side open, a correctable problem that he has already shown progress toward solving. When Franklin's delivery is timed up, he can pitch downhill with a plus fastball and a plus curveball, and he has shown flashes of a changeup Rays officials are excited about. Franklin headlines the next wave of young pitching prospects coming up through the lower ranks of the Rays' system. Given Tampa's slow-and-steady approach to developing pitchers, Franklin is likely to be brought along slowly, with an assignment to a short-season affiliate likely the next step in his development.
Draft Prospects
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Franklin, a Samford signee, has one of the better fastballs in the Florida prep class, as he consistently sits 90-95 mph and does a good job of locating his fastball armside and gloveside. His fastball has quality sink. Franklin's curveball has a chance to develop into an above-average offering as it will lock hitters up when he's locating it, although his struggles in direction and staying over the rubber lead to some inconsistency. He doesn't throw his changeup very often, but it's a promising pitch as well.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Signed for $597,500 this year as a third-round pick out of high school, Franklin found immediate success in his transition to pro ball. With strong legs and a durable frame, he operates with a fastball that sits at 89-92 mph and touches 95 with good downhill angle. His out pitch is his plus curveball, which GCL hitters had trouble making contact with in the strike zone and often chased for swings and misses when it was out of the zone. Franklin's fastball-curveball combination was a big reason he struck out 26 percent of batters in his pro debut, though he showed feel for a changeup as well. He could do a better job staying over the rubber and with his direction to the plate, but he's a good strike-thrower for his age and projects as a starter.
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Curveball in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018
