Welcome back to the 2015 Last Word on Fantasy Baseball Guide. Over the next several months we will be releasing player profiles, projections, position rankings, and a number of other articles that will help you dominate your fantasy league this season. Whether you play rotisserie or head-to-head; whether you have a standard draft, a snake or an auction league, and whether its keeper league or a one-year deal; we have all the fantasy information you need.
For the rest of our fantasy baseball profiles and articles, please check out our Fantasy Baseball Guide Page.
FANTASY PROFILE: NICK FRANKLIN, 2B, TAMPA BAY RAYS
LWOS Ranking 27, Captain’s Value -$2.74
Living in the Seattle area, there was quite a bit of hype surrounding Nick Franklin prior to his promotion in 2013. Franklin displayed solid numbers and plate discipline in the minors, leading Mariners fans to believe they had the answer to their World Series drought (not really but we are a depressing bunch). At only 22, Franklin had a decent year in 2013 (93 wRC+) for his rookie season. He hit 12 HR in 412 plate appearances (1:34 HR/PA) and chipped in 6 SB as well. He did have a high K% (27.4) but he paired that with an above average BB% (10.2). The down side was his average of .225 that could not be blamed on his .290 BABIP.
Franklin took a nosedive in 2104, slashing a paltry .160/.222/.247 (.240 BABIP) with only one HR in 90 plate appearances between Seattle and Tampa Bay and a 35.6 K%. So what’s the deal?
Franklin just does not make good contact. In 2013 he had a contact rate of 75.1% and a 10.4 swinging strike %. Then in 2014 his contact rate dropped to 68.5% and his swinging strike rate rose to 14.4%. If he continues to make contact at a below league average rate, his fantasy value will suffer. Franklin simply does not have the power to outweigh the low contact. He is young so hopefully Tampa Bay can help him make some adjustments but for now proceed with caution.
| Year | Team | POS | G | PA | AB | R | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
| 2013 | SEA | 2B | 102 | 412 | 369 | 38 | 12 | 45 | 6 | 42 | 113 | 0.225 | 0.303 | 0.382 | 0.685 |
| 2014 | SEA | 2B | 17 | 52 | 47 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 21 | 0.128 | 0.192 | 0.170 | 0.362 |
| 2014 | TB | 2B | 11 | 38 | 34 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 0.206 | 0.263 | 0.353 | 0.616 |
| 2014 | 2TM | 2B | 28 | 90 | 81 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 0.160 | 0.222 | 0.247 | 0.469 |
| 2015 Proj | TB | 2B | 450 | 400 | 43 | 13 | 47 | 7 | 43 | 117 | 0.240 | 0.318 | 0.397 | 0.715 |
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**All stats courtesy of Fangraphs
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