<img alt="Rome Braves outfielder Jesse Franklin is running down the first base line" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wrnxuAqCRJ0PLLTWL5aKvdFr4CQ=/0x0:1863x1242/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73735964/K3e3zIxV.0.jpeg">
Jesse Franklin | Image Credit: Mills Fitzner
Jesse Franklin’s health struggles continued in 2024, preventing him from playing any games. A third round pick by the Atlanta Braves back in 2020, Jesse Franklin has had issues staying on the field since his final college season.
How acquired
Franklin was the Braves third rounder in the shortened 2020 MLB Draft out of Michigan. He was initially seen as a possible first round pick after a big 2019 season leading the Wolverines to the College World Series, but an off-field accident and the season shutdown prevented him from seeing the field in his final college season. That helped drop him down into the third round where the Braves jumped at the chance to add a productive college bat - though one who was expected to need further seasoning in the minor leagues.
Preseason Report Card
Franklin was ranked #28 in our Preseason Top 30 Prospects list. That writeup included the following:
“Franklin V struggled to hit for average as he hit just .232 in Double-A compared to the .244 he had in High-A in 2021. Additionally, his swing and miss concerns continued as he struck out 115 times in 94 games, which is the same number of K’s he had in 2021, in 7 fewer games. The appeal with Franklin V as a prospect is his power which is the reason the Braves drafted him. In 2021 he posted a slugging percentage of .522 whilst hitting 24 doubles and 24 homers. In 2023 though, that number dipped to .419 as he hit 7 fewer doubles and 9 fewer home runs. Since Franklin V is an older prospect at 25 years old, 2024 feels like a bit of a make or break season for him. If he can’t clean up the swing and miss in his game, it is difficult to ever see him being a big league contributor.”
Franklin showed signs of being able to hit for average in college, but hadn’t done it yet in the pros. Still he had hit for power, used his solid speed well on the bases, and was an average corner outfielder capable of filling in at center for brief periods.
What we saw in 2024
We didn’t. Franklin’s make or break 2024 never got off the ground because of left shoulder tendinitis that quickly got him placed on the 60-day injured list and saw him remain there all season. As an older prospect who has needed to get more at bats in as a pro ever since he was drafted, the continued injuries have really limited any chance for him to replicate his 2021 breakout.
2025 Outlook
It’s very tough to predict for a guy who has missed more games than he has played over the past three seasons. He played just 15 games in 2022 before needing Tommy John surgery, played in 94 games while shaking rust off in 2023, and missed all of 2024.
Franklin will already turn 26 on December 1, is coming off of a missed a missed season that followed a disappointing season, and only has 453 plate appearances in Double-A. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back in Double-A to start the season, but based on his age starting in Triple-A would also seem to be a very real possibility.
<img alt="Rome Braves outfielder Jesse Franklin is running down the first base line" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wrnxuAqCRJ0PLLTWL5aKvdFr4CQ=/0x0:1863x1242/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73735964/K3e3zIxV.0.jpeg">
Jesse Franklin | Image Credit: Mills Fitzner
Jesse Franklin’s health struggles continued in 2024, preventing him from playing any games. A third round pick by the Atlanta Braves back in 2020, Jesse Franklin has had issues staying on the field since his final college season.
How acquired
Franklin was the Braves third rounder in the shortened 2020 MLB Draft out of Michigan. He was initially seen as a possible first round pick after a big 2019 season leading the Wolverines to the College World Series, but an off-field accident and the season shutdown prevented him from seeing the field in his final college season. That helped drop him down into the third round where the Braves jumped at the chance to add a productive college bat - though one who was expected to need further seasoning in the minor leagues.
Preseason Report Card
Franklin was ranked #28 in our Preseason Top 30 Prospects list. That writeup included the following:
“Franklin V struggled to hit for average as he hit just .232 in Double-A compared to the .244 he had in High-A in 2021. Additionally, his swing and miss concerns continued as he struck out 115 times in 94 games, which is the same number of K’s he had in 2021, in 7 fewer games. The appeal with Franklin V as a prospect is his power which is the reason the Braves drafted him. In 2021 he posted a slugging percentage of .522 whilst hitting 24 doubles and 24 homers. In 2023 though, that number dipped to .419 as he hit 7 fewer doubles and 9 fewer home runs. Since Franklin V is an older prospect at 25 years old, 2024 feels like a bit of a make or break season for him. If he can’t clean up the swing and miss in his game, it is difficult to ever see him being a big league contributor.”
Franklin showed signs of being able to hit for average in college, but hadn’t done it yet in the pros. Still he had hit for power, used his solid speed well on the bases, and was an average corner outfielder capable of filling in at center for brief periods.
What we saw in 2024
We didn’t. Franklin’s make or break 2024 never got off the ground because of left shoulder tendinitis that quickly got him placed on the 60-day injured list and saw him remain there all season. As an older prospect who has needed to get more at bats in as a pro ever since he was drafted, the continued injuries have really limited any chance for him to replicate his 2021 breakout.
2025 Outlook
It’s very tough to predict for a guy who has missed more games than he has played over the past three seasons. He played just 15 games in 2022 before needing Tommy John surgery, played in 94 games while shaking rust off in 2023, and missed all of 2024.
Franklin will already turn 26 on December 1, is coming off of a missed a missed season that followed a disappointing season, and only has 453 plate appearances in Double-A. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him back in Double-A to start the season, but based on his age starting in Triple-A would also seem to be a very real possibility.
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