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Frank Francisco

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Frank Francisco
Francisco with the Texas Rangers
Relief pitcher
Born: Franklin Thomas Francisco
(1979-09-11) September 11, 1979 (age 45)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 14, 2004, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
May 20, 2014, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record20–22
Earned run average4.01
Strikeouts426
Saves73
Teams
Francisco with the New York Mets

Franklin Thomas Francisco (born September 11, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets and Chicago White Sox.

Baseball career

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Francisco was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox. He was traded by the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox on July 31, 2002, along with Byeong Hak An, in exchange for reliever Bob Howry. On July 1, 2003, the White Sox acquired Carl Everett from the Texas Rangers in exchange for three players to be named later.

Texas Rangers

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On July 25, 2003, Francisco, Josh Rupe, and minor leaguer Anthony Webster were sent to the Rangers to complete the trade.

Francisco is best known for participating in a notable incident involving fan violence. On September 13, 2004, he threw a folding chair into the crowd during a game against the Oakland Athletics.[1] The incident initially escalated when Rangers pitcher Doug Brocail confronted a fan. Francisco, who was in the dugout when all this was happening in the bullpen, ran from the dugout to the bullpen and threw a folding chair into the crowd, hitting a female fan in the face, breaking her nose and causing a cut which required stitches.[2] Francisco was arrested and on June 30, 2005, he pleaded no contest to the charges. He was sentenced to anger management classes and a work program. A civil suit brought by the woman who had been struck by the chair was settled on January 12, 2007. Terms of the settlement included an undisclosed payment and a public apology.

Francisco was suspended for the balance of the 2004 season, and missed the entire 2005 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. Francisco rejoined the club on September 8, 2006.[3]

After a poor spring training, Francisco started 2007 with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks. Following an injury to Éric Gagné in mid-April, Francisco was recalled to the majors. Francisco spent time in 2008 as the Rangers' closer after an injury to regular closer C. J. Wilson.

Francisco again began 2009 as the closer. He began with seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk, while garnering two saves.[4] Through the end of April, Francisco maintained a 0.00 ERA with one walk and nine strikeouts, as well as six saves.[5] He allowed his first run of 2009 on an upper-deck home run by Oakland Athletics' second baseman, Adam Kennedy.

Francisco and the Rangers agreed to a one-year contract of $3.265 million, thereby avoiding arbitration for the 2010 season.[6]

Francisco lost the closer's role after blowing saves in his first two chances of the 2010 baseball season.

Toronto Blue Jays

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On January 25, 2011, Francisco was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for catcher Mike Napoli.[7]

On January 29, Francisco agreed to terms with the Blue Jays on a one-year contract. After a stint on the disabled list, Francisco made his debut as a Blue Jay on April 20. On his first pitch as a Blue Jay, Francisco gave up a home run to the Yankees' Curtis Granderson. He became a free agent following the season.

New York Mets

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On December 6, 2011, Francisco agreed to a two-year contract worth $12 million with the New York Mets.[8] Frank Francisco made his Mets debut on April 5, 2012 against the Atlanta Braves, and was named the Mets' closer for the 2012 season.

On May 13, 2012, Francisco was ejected from a game against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park after an outburst towards the home plate umpire.[9]

On June 23, 2012, after a save against the New York Yankees, Francisco was placed on the 15-day disabled list after feeling soreness in his oblique muscle. Before he began a rehabilitation assignment to come off the DL, Francisco aggravated his injury. On August 22, 2012, Francisco showed frustration by hurling a cooler in the dugout after giving up two runs in the top of the ninth inning. On December 18, 2012, Francisco had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.[10]

On May 30, 2013, Francisco was moved to the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster for shortstop Omar Quintanilla. He became a free agent following the season.

Chicago White Sox

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On April 14, 2014, the White Sox signed Francisco to a minor league contract, and assigned him to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights.[11] On April 17, when Frank De Los Santos was transferred from the Birmingham Barons, Francisco was transferred to the Rookie Pioneer League team, the Great Falls Voyagers.[12] On May 10, the White Sox purchased his contract from Charlotte and brought him up to the major leagues.[13] He was designated for assignment on May 22, 2014. He cleared waivers and was assigned outright to Charlotte on May 24. Francisco refused the assignment and became a free agent.[14]

Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)

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Francisco signed a minor league deal in late June with Toronto but was released on July 14, 2014, after not appearing in a game.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Rangers' Francisco arrested for hitting fans with thrown chair". CBS Sportsline. September 14, 2004. Archived from the original on December 17, 2004.
  2. ^ esterbook, john (September 14, 2004). "Chair-Throwing Pitcher Suspended". cbs news. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Sullivan, T.R. (September 8, 2006). "Notes: Francisco excited to be back". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
  4. ^ Singh, David (April 22, 2009). "Francisco solidifying role as closer". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
  5. ^ Sullivan, T.R. (April 29, 2009). "Francisco seals Rangers' scrappy win". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011.
  6. ^ "Postcards from Elysian Fields: Francisco Agrees to Contract". Archived from the original on January 30, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  7. ^ Stephens, Bailey (January 25, 2011). "Napoli dealt to Rangers for Francisco". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "Report: Mets sign Frank Francisco – CBSSports.com". Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
  9. ^ McCarron, Anthony (May 14, 2012). "NY Mets' bullpen implodes in 8-4 loss to Miami Marlins; Giancarlo Stanton hits grand slam in 9th inning". nydailynews.com.
  10. ^ McCullough, Andy (December 19, 2012). "Francisco has surgery, Opening Day still likely". The Newark Star Ledger. p. 45. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Padilla, Doug (April 14, 2014). "White Sox pick up Frank Francisco". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  12. ^ Knights, Charlotte (April 17, 2014). "Putnam to Chicago, De Los Santos to Charlotte". Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  13. ^ "White Sox bring up Frank Francisco". The Province. May 10, 2014. Archived from the original on June 16, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  14. ^ Links, Zach (May 25, 2014). "Frank Francisco Elects Free Agency". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
  15. ^ Polishuk, Mark (July 14, 2014). "Minor Moves: Francisco, Gimenez". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
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