With the 97th pick in the 2020 MLB Draft the Atlanta Braves have selected OF Jesse Franklin from the University of Michigan.
Jesse Franklin is a 6’1, 215 pound outfielder from Michigan. The lefty hitting and throwing outfielder led the Wolverines run into the 2019 College World Series, but didn’t play this spring after an off-field injury and the shutdown that came later. He is originally from Seattle, Washington.
Stats
2018: 47 G, .327/.379/.588, 11 2B, 1 3B, 10 HR, 47 RBI, 4-6 SB, 14 BB, 34 K, 190 PA
2019: 68 G, .262/.388/.477, 15 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 55 RBI, 4-4 SB, 51 BB, 54 K, 322 PA
2020: DNP, hurt off-field
2018 Cape: 28 G, .302/.396/.417, 5 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 0-1 SB, 14 BB, 19 K, 111 PA
2019 Cape: 21 G, .282/.333/.380, 4 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 2-2 SB, 3 BB, 15 K, 81 PA
Ranks:
Baseball America: 150
Pipeline: 142
ESPN: N/A in 150
Athletic: N/A in 100
Perfect Game: 167
Prospects Live: N/A in 101
One of the guys most hurt by the shutdown in college had to be Jesse Franklin, who has seen his stock drop without setting foot on the field. Just before the season started it came out that he was going to miss the first part of the season with a broken collarbone from a skiing accident. Franklin has shown both some ability to hit for average and some ability to hit for power, but he hasn’t shown the ability to do both at the same time. He could have plus left handed power, but it may take some tweaks to his approach to bring that out with the ability to hit for average. Franklin is an above average runner and will get a chance to stick in center, but if he can’t he would be limited to left as his arm is fringy. Already 21 and turning 22 later this year, Franklin can’t really take a chance on returning to school to show more with the bat.
Franklin has interesting upside. I think he’s more of a corner outfielder long-term even though he will get a look in center, but he’s being taken for his bat. His missed season hurt his stock a little for sure. Franklin is likely a slot guy, if not slightly under.