LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Well, yes, now that you mention it, there are some things Jeff Francoeur might have to share with young Dansby Swanson.
Both are suburban Atlanta kids who grew up to be first-round draft picks, Francoeur selected out of Parkview High by the Braves and Swanson, a Marietta High graduate, taken with the No. 1 overall pick last June by the Diamondbacks out of Vanderbilt. Swanson was traded to the Braves in December.
Francoeur, now 32, was a first-round pick in 2002 and a Sports Illustrated cover boy during his 2005 rookie season, tagged by SI as “The Natural.” Within four years he would be traded to the New York Mets.
Francoeur is back for a second stint with the Braves after signing a minor league contract Monday with a non-roster invitation to spring training. He reported to camp Wednesday. His locker is on the side of the clubhouse that primarily houses minor leaguers and prospects, while Swanson is lockered on the other side with most Braves major leaguers.
“I think there’s just a few things I’ll be able to teach him and tell him,” Francoeur said, smiling after stating the obvious. “But yeah, it’s exciting for those (prospects).
“Honestly, people ask me a lot of times about my career and stuff like that. I wouldn’t trade it at all. I’ve been able to experience literally everything. Do I wish it was smoother? Of course, who doesn’t? At the same time, there may be five percent of big leaguers that get that chance to just sail through their career and be great. It didn’t happen that way. At the same time, I’ve met so many people in this game, played in a World Series and done a lot of great things, lived in a lot of great places. Now here I am back here. This (Braves) has always felt right.”
