Spring Training 2010
Francisco to get a shot in LF
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted March 15, 2010 7:18 PM ET
GOODYEAR, Ariz. - Juan Francisco will make his first appearance of the spring in left field on Tuesday as the Reds travel to Tuscon to face the Diamondbacks.
Juan Francisco
Despite being touted as the Reds' third baseman of the future for the last few years, the Reds acquired veteran third baseman Scott Rolen at the trade deadline last season and then re-signed him to a two-year extension through 2012 this offseason, leaving Francisco in the lurch.
As an attempt to get Francisco's bat in the lineup, he'll play left, a position he's some experience with in the past and one that's still up for grabs.
"I feel really comfortable with it, thank God I was able to play there a lot in the Dominican Winter League," Francisco said through interpreter Yonder Alonso. "I'm excited just to get out there and play, wherever they put me."
Serving as the team's designated hitter, Francisco singled and scored in the first inning of Monday's 13-5 victory over Oakland as part of a 10-run first against starter Ben Sheets. This spring, he's hitting .333 with an .800 slugging percentage.
However, Francisco has also struck out five times, including twice on Monday and walked just once.
"I want to get him in there, we've still got to work on him because he's extremely aggressive," Baker said. "We've got to work on his pitch selection a little bit. They're starting to go out of the zone on him and he'll start to get a reputation and that's what they'll do. I'm very confident he'll make the adjustment."
The strikeout-to-walk ration is close to his career 5.4-to-1 average. Last season he struck out 122 times and walked 27 in stops at AA, AAA and with the Reds. In his last-season call-up, Francisco hit .429 with a home run in 21 at-bats, with seven strikeouts and three walks.
"I'm working on all aspects of the game and that's one of my main goals and hopefully I can cut down on the strikeouts," Francisco said.
Francisco played third base and left field in the Dominican Winter League, where he was named the league's MVP and hit .302 with 11 HR and 42 RBI for Gigantes.
"I know I can play both positions, so it's not a problem, as long as I can play and contribute every day," Francisco said.
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories, Spring Training 2010
Tags: Dusty Baker, Juan Francisco, Reds, Scott Rolen, spring training, Yonder Alonso
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