PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — In his first full season in the bigs, Maikel Franco hit 25 homers, 23 doubles, and knocked in 88 runs.
But the promising Phillies slugger also struck out 106 times, batting just .255 with a .306 on-base percentage.
With the addition of veteran hitters Howie Kendrick and Michael Saunders, along with new hitting coach Matt Stairs, manager Pete Mackanin has already seen a change in Franco’s approach which could lead to a huge 2017 season for the 24-year-old third baseman.
Related: Phillies’ Michael Saunders Credits Mother Who Battled Breast Cancer For Person He Is Today
“Matt [Stairs] purposely put Franco and [shortstop] Freddy Galvis in the same group as Howie Kendrick because Howie Kendrick has proven to be a good situational hitter,” Mackanin told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Wednesday, one day before the team’s first exhibition game against the University of Tampa.