CLEARWATER – In an annual ritual, the Phillies clubhouse staff inserts nameplates above each locker in the weeks leading up to spring training. There is little thought to the stall assignments as they are simply assigned for camp in numerical order. No. 2 sits next to No. 4, who sits next to No. 5, and so on.
But then No. 7 was placed next to No. 41. Maikel Franco, entering a season that will likely determine his future with the Phillies, found his locker next to Carlos Santana, the player signed this offseason who the Phillies hope can infuse the clubhouse with positive vibes as much as he improves the team’s on-base percentage.