16. Jesse Franklin
Personal Rank: 14
The Braves were thrilled to grab Jesse Franklin in the 3rd round of the 2020 MLB draft. Franklin was thought to have first round potential but got injured skiing before his final season at Michigan ever got started.
Then the Covid pandemic shut down college baseball, and Franklin never got to reach the field, causing him to drop in draft rankings. This allowed the Braves to scoop him up in the 3rd.
They brought Franklin into the alternate site to get work when he was healthy, showing the Braves did see something in the kid from Seattle. He finally got to play baseball again in 2021, starting at High-A Rome.
2020 draft pick and @umichbaseball product Jesse Franklin already making plays 😤 pic.twitter.com/bIwq7iUfMV
— Bally Sports: Braves (@BravesOnBally) August 15, 2020
There appeared to be some rust as Franklin started slow, but eventually turned it around to finish with a solid season and open eyes around the organization. Overall, Franklin hit .244/.320/.522 24 HR, 55 R, 61 RBI, 19 SB, .355 wOBA, and 118 wRC+.
This included a solid 8.4% walk rate, and a higher strikeout rate of 28.3%.
Maybe the most interesting part of Franklin’s stat line was the 19 stolen bases. That was not something people thought was in his game, seeing as he stole 8 bases in two seasons in Michigan.
If he keeps up the speed on the bases, it will make him a more valuable prospect in the minors. As of now, he is viewed as a guy with a slightly below average hit tool but with above average raw power.
He projects as a prototypical slugger that may strike out a decent amount but should hit for decent power. Keeping up the plate discipline and taking his walks will be something that benefits Franklin throughout the minors.
While there is hope that he can play solid defense with the glove and speed, he projects as having a weaker arm that might keep him in left field. If he can hit for power and be reliable with the glove, Franklin will make for a fine left fielder.
It would probably benefit Franklin to spend the majority, if not all, of 2022 in AA. He could move to Gwinnett depending on what happens to the Braves outfield prospects ahead of him and if Franklin puts together a good season in Mississippi.