Ben Francisco
Encyclopedia
Louis Ben Francisco is a Major League Baseball
outfielder
for the Philadelphia Phillies
. He bats and throws right handed.
, a Roman Catholic high school for boys, in Anaheim
, California where he played on the same baseball
team as former Indians teammate Ryan Garko
. He later attended and played baseball at Cypress Junior College
in 2000 and went on to play at the University of California, Los Angeles
in 2001 through 2003.
.
He was recalled from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
on May 1, ,
and made his major league debut that night as a late-game defensive replacement. On June 29, 2007, Francisco got his first hit
and his first home run
in his first major league start. His home run came leading off the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Indians a 2-1, walk-off
win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
.
On July 29, 2009, Francisco was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with reigning Cy Young Award
winner Cliff Lee
, for a selection of top minor league prospects including Carlos Carrasco
, Jason Donald
, Lou Marson
, and Jason Knapp.
He spent the remainder of 2009 and the entire 2010 season as a reserve outfielder and pinch hitter with the Phillies. Following the departure of starting right fielder Jayson Werth
, Francisco earned a regular spot in the Phillies' starting lineup at the onset of the 2011 season. By mid season, however, Francisco returned to his reserve role.
Though limited in play during the second half of the year, this year Francisco will most notably be remembered for his clutch performance in Game 3 of the 2011 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a scoreless game, with Shane Victorino
on second, the Cardinals elected to intentionally walk Carlos Ruiz in order to face Francisco. After nearly hitting a home run against Jaime Garcia
a few weeks earlier, Francisco blasted a 405 foot home run into the Phillies' bullpen. Francisco ended up being the winning run in a game where the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Cardinals 3-2.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
for the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He bats and throws right handed.
Early life
He is a 1999 graduate of Servite High SchoolServite High School
Servite High School is an all-boys, Roman Catholic college preparatory high school operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary . Located on a campus in Anaheim, California, USA, as of 2011 it had an enrollment of about 985 and about 9200 alumni. Its mascot is the Friar and its colors are black...
, a Roman Catholic high school for boys, in Anaheim
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, California where he played on the same baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team as former Indians teammate Ryan Garko
Ryan Garko
Ryan Francis Garko is a professional baseball outfielder, first baseman, and designated hitter, who plays for the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization. In college, he was a catcher. He has played for the Cleveland Indians, the San Francisco Giants, and the Texas Rangers in Major...
. He later attended and played baseball at Cypress Junior College
Cypress College
Cypress College is a community college located in Cypress, California. Opened on September 12, 1966 , the southern California college offers a variety of general education , transfer courses , and 141 vocational programs leading to Associate's degrees and certificates.-Overview:Cypress College's...
in 2000 and went on to play at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
in 2001 through 2003.
Professional career
He was selected by the Indians in the fifth round (154th overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
.
He was recalled from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
on May 1, ,
and made his major league debut that night as a late-game defensive replacement. On June 29, 2007, Francisco got his first hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and his first home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in his first major league start. His home run came leading off the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Indians a 2-1, walk-off
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.
On July 29, 2009, Francisco was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with reigning Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner Cliff Lee
Cliff Lee
Clifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
, for a selection of top minor league prospects including Carlos Carrasco
Carlos Carrasco (baseball)
Carlos Luis Carrasco is a right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.-Career:Carrasco was signed as an undrafted free agent on November 25, by the Philadelphia Phillies. In , Carrasco spent the entire season at the Single-A level with the Lakewood BlueClaws, compiling a 2.26 ERA in 159.1...
, Jason Donald
Jason Donald (baseball)
Jason Thomas Donald is an Olympian for the United States and a Major League Baseball shortstop who currently plays for the Cleveland Indians...
, Lou Marson
Lou Marson
Louis Glenn Marson is an American professional baseball catcher with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. Marson stands and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
, and Jason Knapp.
He spent the remainder of 2009 and the entire 2010 season as a reserve outfielder and pinch hitter with the Phillies. Following the departure of starting right fielder Jayson Werth
Jayson Werth
Jayson Richard Gowan Werth is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies. He bats and throws right-handed.-Background:Werth was born in...
, Francisco earned a regular spot in the Phillies' starting lineup at the onset of the 2011 season. By mid season, however, Francisco returned to his reserve role.
Though limited in play during the second half of the year, this year Francisco will most notably be remembered for his clutch performance in Game 3 of the 2011 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. In a scoreless game, with Shane Victorino
Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:...
on second, the Cardinals elected to intentionally walk Carlos Ruiz in order to face Francisco. After nearly hitting a home run against Jaime Garcia
Jaime García
Jaime García Cruz was a Spanish horse rider who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and in the 1952 Summer Olympics....
a few weeks earlier, Francisco blasted a 405 foot home run into the Phillies' bullpen. Francisco ended up being the winning run in a game where the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Cardinals 3-2.