Franklin (quad) will play his first rehab game for High-A Bradenton on Wednesday, John Perrotto of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Franklin missed all of spring training after straining his quad early in camp. Upon completion of his rehab, he should return to Triple-A Indianapolis and serve as organizational depth.
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Pirates' Nick Franklin: Dispatched to minors
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The Pirates reassigned Franklin (hamstring) to their minor-league camp Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Franklin picked up a right hamstring injury early in camp and never played in any Grapefruit League games, ruining his slim chances of breaking camp with the big club. Unless he demonstrates some meaningful progress over the next week or two, he'll likely open the season on the injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Pirates' Nick Franklin: Injury not helping chances
Rotowire
Franklin has yet to play in the Grapefruit League because of right hamstring tightness, John Perrotto of DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.
The non-roster invitee is fighting an uphill battle to make the Opening Day roster. Although he's taking part in baseball activities and getting close to making his spring debut, Franklin will likely start the 2019 campaign in Triple-A.
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Pirates' Nick Franklin: Lands NRI deal with Pirates
Rotowire
Franklin signed a minor-league contract with the Pirates on Wednesday that includes an invitation to major-league spring training, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old spent time in the Brewers organization last season and attempted to add the catcher position to his already expansive defensive toolset. However, he only appeared in three games behind the dish at the Double-A level. Then, when he finally got his chance to go to the majors, he injured his quad just four innings into his season debut and missed the rest of the season. Franklin will have a chance to crack the major-league roster out of spring training as a utility man, but he will need to outperform players like Pablo Reyes, Erik Gonzalez, Kevin Kramer and Kevin Newman during spring training in order to break camp.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Activated and outrighted
Rotowire
The Brewers activated Franklin (quadriceps) from the 60-day disabled list Sunday and outrighted him to Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Franklin, who was in the midst of a rehab assignment at High-A Carolina, had been sidelined since early May with the right quad strain. The utility man appears to be fully healthy at this point, but the Brewers don't have much of a need for Franklin with Tyler Saladino and Hernan Perez capable of playing three infield spots and Jacob Nottingham on hand as the team's No. 3 catcher. Franklin will finish out the season in the Pacific Coast League before hitting free agency this winter, when he'll likely have to settle for a minor-league deal.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Starting rehab assignment Thursday
Rotowire
Franklin (quadriceps) is starting a rehab assignment with the Brewers' rookie-ball affiliate Thursday.
After a lengthy stay on the shelf with a quad injury, Franklin is ready for game action -- albeit at the rookie level. Franklin has been sidelined since May 9, so he figures to need an extended rehab assignment before the Brewers even consider activating him from the 60-day disabled list.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Transferred to 60-day DL
Rotowire
Franklin (quadriceps) was moved to the 60-day disabled list Monday.
In order to make room for Nate Orf on the 40-man roster, Franklin was shifted to the 60-day disabled list as he's not quite ready to return from a right quadriceps strain he suffered in early May. There has been no word on his recovery but the infielder will be eligible to return Sunday against the Braves, though it wouldn't be surprising if he remained sidelined through the All-Star break.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Dealing with illness
Rotowire
Franklin, who landed on the 10-day disabled list May 9 with a right quadriceps strain, is also battling an illness, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
According to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Franklin is expected to be sidelined for around two weeks due to the quad injury, so he'll likely be over the illness by that point. Following Franklin's placement on the DL, the Brewers added Tyler Saladino to the active roster to serve as a utility man. Should Saladino impress in that role over the next couple weeks, he could stick with Milwaukee over Franklin once the latter is activated.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Placed on disabled list
Rotowire
Franklin was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right quad strain.
Franklin lasted just four innings into his season debut before suffering the injury Tuesday against Cleveland. He underwent an MRI on Wednesday morning to determine the severity of the issue, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Tyler Saladino was called up to take his place on the roster.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Injures quad Tuesday
Rotowire
Franklin exited Tuesday's win over the Indians with a quadriceps strain and will be placed on the 10-day disabled list, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Franklin was promoted from Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday and got the start at second base, but injured himself coming out of the batter's box to beat a double play in the fourth inning. The super-utility man should hit the disabled list Wednesday along with starting pitcher Wade Miley.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Promoted to majors
Rotowire
Franklin's contract was selected from Double-A Biloxi on Tuesday.
Franklin started off the year in Double-A in order to get work as a catcher, but with Stephen Vogt (shoulder) experiencing a setback in his most recent rehab stint, the Brewers will add Franklin to the active roster for more depth overall. The 27-year-old played every position beside pitcher and center field with the Shuckers, so he seems to be in line for super-utility duty off the Brewers' bench. He will immediately jump into Milwaukee's lineup and hit sixth against Indians starter Corey Kluber on Tuesday night.
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Brewers' Nick Franklin: Re-ups with Milwaukee on NRI deal
Rotowire
Franklin agreed to a minor-league contract with the Brewers on Thursday that includes an invitation to spring training.
Franklin, a 2009 first-round draft pick of the Mariners, will make a return trip to Milwaukee after being designated for assignment by the team over the summer. He failed to bat over the Mendoza Line with the Brewers or the Angels, so he'll likely just act as organizational depth for the team given his expansive positional utility.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Outrighted after clearing waivers
Rotowire
Franklin cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake on Monday.
No club wanted to take on Franklin's salary, so he'll serve as infield and outfield depth at the club's top minors level. He's mustered a .179/.269/.293 line with two home runs over 119 major-league plate appearances for the Halos and the Brewers.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Designated for assignment
Rotowire
Franklin was designated for assignment by the Angels on Saturday, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.
This marks Franklin's second DFA in just over a month and third since April 1. The 26-year-old has hit .214/.285/.360 in parts of five seasons in the majors and he's limited defensively, realistically capable of helping out only at second base and the outfield corners. He will be subjected to waivers once again.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Falls behind Cowart in pecking order
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Franklin is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Indians.
With Franklin sitting for the second straight game against a right-handed starting pitching, it seems rather apparent that he's been supplanted by Kaleb Cowart as the top option at the keystone. Cowart, who has slashed .311/.383/.482 this season at Triple-A Salt Lake, rewarded the Angels with a 2-for-4 showing at the plate Tuesday, so he should continue to play regularly against both both right- and left-handed starters until his production craters.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Hits bench Tuesday
Rotowire
Franklin is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Indians.
Franklin has resided on the large side of a platoon at second base with Cliff Pennington, but now that Kaleb Cowart is in the big leagues again, there is a chance that Cowart could log most of the starts at the keystone while sending the current platoon mates to the bench. That's how it will be Tuesday, anyway -- Cowart is manning second base and batting ninth in his first game back up.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Sits versus lefty again Saturday
Rotowire
Franklin is not in the lineup Saturday against the Red Sox.
This marks the second lefty in a row that Franklin will not face, which makes it seem like he and fellow switch-hitter Cliff Pennington are in a full-blown platoon at second base. Although Franklin has the fortune of being on the larger side of the timeshare, his uninspiring batting line on the season makes him a rather unattractive asset in most fantasy formats.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Hits bench versus lefty Friday
Rotowire
Franklin is not in the lineup Friday against the Red Sox, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.
The utility man's struggles at the plate followed him to Anaheim, as he's just 2-for-20 with his new ball club. That, paired with the fact that he's historically performed worse against left-handed pitchers (like Boston starter Chris Sale), spelled a clear bench day for Franklin, who will cede Friday's start to Cliff Pennington.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Out of lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Franklin will get the day off for Wednesday's series finale against the Nationals, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Franklin receives a breather after starting six of the past seven games, going 1-for-13 at the plate during that span. In his place, Cliff Pennington will man the keystone while batting eighth in the order.
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Angels' Nick Franklin: Likely primary option at second base
Rotowire
Franklin will start at second base and bat ninth Sunday against the Rays.
With the Angels announcing earlier Sunday that Danny Espinosa was designated for assignment, Franklin looks poised to assume at least the strong side of a platoon at second base with Cliff Pennington. While Franklin stands to see a surge in at-bats as a result, the 26-year-old is on his third team this season and is a fringe 40-man-roster player, so he probably won't have much leash on a regular role. He's recorded two hits in 15 at-bats since joining the Angels in late June.
