| IP | 16.1 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.31 |
| WHIP | 1.040 |
| BB/9 | 2.8 |
| SO/9 | 8.8 |
- Full name Branneli Franco
- Born 02/05/2007 in Bajos De Haina, Dominican Republic
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 187 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.
Track Record: Franco was one of the most highly touted pitchers in the 2024 international market, and the $800,000 bonus he received was the highest of any pitcher in his class. Franco debuted in the Dominican Summer League. By the time Franco signed, he had gone from the mid 80s to the low 90s and saw another velocity jump in the DSL, where he sat 93-95 mph. Franco made 12 starts for the Cardinals’ DSL team going 0-3 with a 6.16 ERA and 37 strikeouts to 24 walks over 38 innings.
Scouting Report: Franco is 6-foot-3 and weighs 190 pounds with arm speed and physical projection in his lean, long-limbed frame. While Franco has already made a substantial velocity jump, he is expected to continue to grow. He has an easy delivery, good arm action and the ball comes out of his hand cleanly. While his results were poor in his pro debut, there’s lots of growth remaining for the 17-year-old. Franco sat 94-95 mph on his fastball with average ride and above-average run. His best secondary is a slurvy, low-to-mid-80s slider with plus sweep and spin rates up to 2,750 rpm. His changeup is a work in progress but shows good vertical separation off his fastball. Franco shows fringe-average command of his fastball but struggles to land his secondaries consistently. How he matures as a strike-thrower will determine whether he remains a starter.
The Future: Franco should make his stateside debut in 2025 looking to improve his strike-throwing.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45. -
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Track Record: Franco signed for the top bonus ($800,000) of any pitcher in the 2024 international class. He signed with the Cardinals out of the Dominican Republic at the beginning of the 2024 international signing period.
Scouting Report: Franco has a fast arm and excellent physical projection remaining in his lean frame. His fastball has been trending up, growing from the mid-80s to the low-90s, touching 94 mph. Between his arm speed and room to fill out, he could be throwing in the upper-90s at some point. His arm works well, he’s a good strike-thrower for his age and he has shown the feel to spin a curveball, which is his most advanced secondary offering.
The Future: The highest paid pitcher in the 2024 class, Franco should debut later this summer in the Dominican Summer League.
Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45
