During the off-season back in 2014 and on into the 2015 campaign, the first waves of the Phillies rebuilding tide began to wash upon the Citizens Bank Park shores as trades of key older players combined with the appearance of the first of what is hoped will be a continuous series of younger players making their debut in red pinstripes.
The first position player in that rising tide was 3rd baseman Maikel Franco. Signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic back in 2010, Franco rose incrementally through the minor leagues, becoming the #17 prospect in the game according to Baseball America prior to the 2014 season.