Atlanta Braves Bring Home Outfielder Jeff Francoeur
By Fred Owens
According to Mark Bowman the Brave signed former Baby Brave Jeff Francoeur to a minor league deal that could mark the return of Frenchy to Turner field.
Jeff Francoeur is returning to the #Braves with a Minor Lg deal and invite to big league camp
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) February 22, 2016
The Story So Far
Most Braves fans are familiar with the story but in the event you’re a newcomer here are the highlights. The Braves made the 18 year old outfielder their first selection – 23rd overall – in the 2002 draft. He moved through the system quickly displaying both the ability to get on base along with consistent power.
He arrived in Atlanta in 2005 at the ripe old age of 21 as one of a group that became known as the Baby Braves sporting a .282/.330/.478/.808 minor line including 53 home runs and 46 stolen bases and took up residence in right field and made an impact in his first at bat.
His bat seemed to immediately find itself at home in Atlanta. He played in 70 games that year posting a .300/.336/.549/.884 line that included 14 homers, 20 doubles and resulted in an OPS+ of 120. Francouer’s defense was stellar all around, while fans were cheering his bat opposing runners learned to fear his arm; Frenchy led the league in outfield assists with 13 in 67 games – three more than second place Jose Guillen who played in 140 games – and 18 DRS and a UZR of 14.5.
In 2006 and 2007 the Braves couldn’t get Frenchy off the field, he played 162 games each year and continued to hit well but in 2008 things started to go south as the table below will show.
In 2009 the Braves and Francoeur coudln’t see eye to eye about hitting or something and he was given to the Mets for Ryan Church.
Next: Six years in the wilderness