Francoeur trying to get job, hits 2-run homer
JUPITER, Fla. – Jeff Francoeur faces seemingly long odds of making the Braves’ opening-day roster, but a few more days like Thursday would increase the veteran outfielder’s chances.
The former Braves golden boy and current non-roster invitee hit a tying two-run homer in the fourth inning of the Braves’ 5-2 Grapefruit League win against the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Francoeur’s first homer of spring training was a line drive off left-hander Justin Nicolino that got a boost from a stiff wind blowing out to left field
“Obviously it’s probably a double if there’s no wind,” he said, smiling. “I’ll take it.”
Absolutely. Since that’s what the Braves had in mind when they signed Francoeur, 32, to a minor league contract last month just a couple of days before full-squad workouts began.
“If it’s not out it’s a double off the wall,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said of the homer. “That’s where he’s going to be most valuable right there — left-handed pitcher, get some at-bats that way. He’s proven he can do it. Hit the ball out of the ballpark. Hopefully that continues and makes for a tough decision come the end of spring training. …
“If you put him in situations, facing a lefty, pinch-hitting off the bench like he did last year, he could be a big piece of this ballclub.”
The Braves already had a glut of veteran outfielders for backup duties, including Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, who are owed a combined $29 million in the last year of their contracts. Neither looks tradable unless the Braves eat all or most of one of those salaries to do it. One of them could also get released if not dealt.
They also have veteran infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio on the 40-man roster after signing him in December.
Nevertheless, Francoeur said he’s not feeling the pressure to hit home runs or get big hits in order to make the team.
“If you do that, things don’t turn out good usually,” said Francoeur, 32, who is in his third consecutive spring training as a non-roster invitee, and has indicated he’ll retire if he doesn’t make the team, rather than play in Triple-A.
“I think having the experience of last year and the year before with the non-roster (invitation to spring training), it’s easier. Two years ago I had a great spring, didn’t make the team. And last year I didn’t have a good spring and made the team,” he said, laughing. “So I think a lot of times it’s the need of the team and really how you fit in.
“For me, I think just being myself, going up there and putting some good ABs together, especially against a lefty like that, it’s a big thing for me.”
Francoeur, who is 5-for-17 (.294) with a double, one walk and two strikeouts in five games, said he learned from experience that it’s counterproductive to put pressure on himself. He realized it after his first stint with the Braves, when he went from Sports Illustrated cover boy as a rookie to traded four years later at midseason 2009, and in subsequent travails including nearly an entire season spent at Triple-A El Paso in 2014.
He had a good bounce-back season with the Phillies in 2015 in a backup and pinch-hitting role, batting .258 with 13 homers and 45 RBIs in 343 at-bats including .367 (11-for-30) with 11 RBIs as a pinch-hitter.
“I think anybody who knows me knows at the end of last time (with the Braves) I was just grinding myself into the (ground),” he said. “And my last year in Kansas City, same thing. Where you just keep trying and trying. One thing I was most proud of last year, if you had a bad at-bat or bad game, I was able to just kind of put it away, come back the next day and be ready to go. You learn that, and it helps you when you’re out there.”
There’s no obvious spot for him on the roster as things currently stand. But Braves figured it was a no-risk, potentially significant reward proposition to sign Francoeur to a minor league deal.
It didn’t hurt that Francoeur has a reputation for being a great teammate, personable and energetic, and that Francouer Braves No. 7 jerseys could still be spotted occasionally last season at Turner Field, even though the Parkview High School graduate and former Braves first-round draft pick last played for the team in 2009.
