Nick Franklin #6

Nick has moonlighted as an Uber driver the past two offseasons back home in Orlando and holds a rating of 4.8 (out of 5)…due to time limitations, he only spent a couple days driving this winter, making 9-10 trips...He took karate from ages 5-9 under instructor Jim King at the American Karate Academy…this offseason, he returned to the very same academy, where King still works, to reincorporate karate into his conditioning…he found that it helped his flexibility, agility and balance...Nick's maternal grandfather, Ed Clifton, played one season as a middle infielder in the Applachian League for the Salem (Va.) Rebels, a Pirates affiliate...He has three dogs: two pit bulls (James and Jeter) and a beagle (Bailey).

2016

Spent time at five different defensive positions over three stints with the Rays…played in 60 games-his most since 2013 (102)-with 45 starts (16-LF, 7-2B, 6-1B, 6-DH, 5-SS, 5-RF)… missed time down the stretch due to two minor injuries...Began the season with Triple-A Durham…was recalled on June 5 and optioned on June 10 after appearing in 3 games…recalled again on June 21 and optioned on July 19, despite hitting .319 (15-for-47) with 13 RBI in 16 games during that stint…recalled a final time on July 29...Established career highs with a .270 avg., .328 OBP and .443 SLG…in comparison, had a .170 avg., .226 OBP and .319 SLG in 55 games with the Rays over the previous two seasons...Switch-hitter batted .285/.347/.482 (39- for-137) with all 6 HR vs. RHP…hit just .216/.256/.297 (8-for-37) against lefties...Twenty of his 26 RBI came at Tropicana Field…11 of those RBI came during the June 27- July 7 homestand, most by a Ray during any homestand since Matt Joyce from July 26- Aug 5, 2010 (12), according to the Elias Sports Bureau…his 11 RBI in 9 games that homestand matched his career total for the Rays in 61 games prior to that...On June 27 vs. BOS, went 3-for-5 with a careerhigh 5 RBI…on June 30 vs. DET, delivered 3 RBI off the bench, coming on a pinch-hit, basesclearing double...On Aug 17 vs. SD, was preparing to lead off the game in the 1st inning when he was struck on the helmet by Kevin Kiermaier's bat near the on-deck circle…removed after the inning as a precaution, and appeared in a game two days later vs. TEX as a defensive replacement…on Aug 20, was placed on the 7-day concussion DL…reinstated on Aug 27...On Sep 15 at BAL, suffered a left hamstring strain while stretching to scoop a throw at first base…the injury limited him to starting only 4 of the team's final 16 games.

2015

Had two stints with the Rays, appearing in 44 games, 23 starts (12-2B, 5-SS, 5-1B, 1-DH), including his first career apps at first base and pitcher...spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Durham...his season was delayed by more than a month due to a left oblique strain suffered in spring training…Eight of his 16 hits went for extra bases (4-2B, 1-3B, 3-HR)...hit .083 (2-for-24) with RISP, and went 0-for-8 as a PH… Entered the spring battling Logan Forsythe for playing time at 2B...suffered a left oblique strain during BP on March 23 and began the season on the DL...played 8 games on a rehab assignment with Durham, batting .318/.423/.500 (7-for-22) with 1 HR, 4 RBI and 2 SB…Reinstated from the DL on May 17...hit .139 (10-for-72) in 28 games during his first stint with the Rays and was optioned to Durham on June 25…On June 1 at LAA, snapped an 0-for-25 skid with a homer off Garrett Richards...it was the 2nd-longest hitless streak of his career (0-for-27 with Seattle in 2013)…Saw his first professional action at 1B with a start on June 6 at SEA...on June 9 vs. LAA had the first multi-error game by a Rays 1B since Carlos Peña on May 4, 2009 vs. BAL…Recalled by the Rays at the conclusion of Durham's season (Sep 8)...after that call up, hit .207 (6-for-29) with a pair of go-ahead homers: Sep 15 vs. NYY (Nick Rumbelow) and Sep 30 vs. MIA (Jarred Cosart)…Recorded a .500 SLG for Durham, knocking 22 extra-base hits in 192 AB (10-2B, 1-3B, 11-HR)...batted .287/.382/.586 (25-for-87) with 6 HR in his last 25 games for Durham before the September call up.

2014

Assigned to Triple-A Durham after arriving from Seattle in the July 31 trade that sent David Price to Detroit...recalled by the Rays on Sep 15 and appeared in 11 games, 9 starts (6-2B, 3-SS)...Made his Rays debut on Sep 16 vs. NYY, going 2-for-4 with an RBI single...became the first player with a multi-hit game and an RBI in his Rays debut since Drew Sutton in 2012...scored the go-ahead run on a safety squeeze in the 6th...Hit .368 (7-for-19) in his first 7 games with the Rays before an 0-for-15 skid to close out the season...Snapped a streak of 145 consecutive homerless at-bats on Sep 20 vs. CWS with a HR off the C-ring catwalk, his first as a Ray and first of 2014 (last Aug 29, 2013 at HOU)...Spent most of the season in Triple-A, playing 75 games with Tacoma (Seattle) and 27 games with Durham...hit a combined .272/.366/.412 (103-for-379) with 11 HR, 56 RBI, 18 2B and 11 SB, while splitting most of his time between 2B (51 games) and SS (41 games)...was Durham's best hitter in the postseason, batting .424/.486/.967 (14-for-33) with 3 2B, 2 HR and 3 RBI in 9 games...Opened the season with Tacoma and served two stints in the majors with the Mariners (April 16-23 and May 20-31)...appeared in 17 games (13 starts) for Seattle, where he hit .128 (6-for-47).

2013

Appeared in 102 games, making 92 starts (2B-96 G/90 GS, SS-3 G/2 GS). Among AL rookies ranked 2nd in RBI (45), T2nd in doubles (20), T2nd in extra-base hits (33), 4th in home runs (12), 5th in games played (102), 7th in runs (38) and 8th in hits (83). Became the 9th rookie in club history to hit 10 home runs and 20 doubles in a season…joined Wil Myers (TB) as only other AL rookie to hit at least 10 HR, 20 doubles in 2013. 12 home runs tied Bret Boone (1993) for the most by a Mariner rookie middle infielder. Hit first career grand slam July 21 at Houston as part of 7-run 2nd inning. Hit first two home runs of his career May 30 at San Diego (2x4, 2 R, 2 HR, 2 RBI)…3rd youngest Seattle player to record multi-HR game (22 years, 89 days). Made MLB debut as DR at 2B May 27 vs. San Diego; walked in only PA. Recorded first MLB hit (1B) May 29 at San Diego (off Eric Stults)…made first MLB start May 28 vs. San Diego (0x4). Named to Baseball America Midseason All-Rookie Team.

2012

Split the season between AA Jackson and AAA Tacoma...combined to bat .278 (131x472) with 64 runs scored, 32 doubles, 9 triples, 11 home runs and 55 RBI in 121 games...promoted to Tacoma on June 20...was one of the youngest players in Triple-A as a 21-year-old...hit .243 (65x267) with 7 home runs and 29 RBI in 64 games with the Rainiers...named a Southern League Mid-Season All-Star after batting .322 (66x205) in 57 games with Jackson...named the Topps Southern League May Player of the Month (.394/28x71)...named Southern League Player of the Week (May 28-June 3)...hit .338 (26x77) in 20 games for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League...selected to play in the AFL Rising Stars Game and named by MLB.com to the AFL Top Prospect Team... listed by Baseball America as the Mariners No. 5 prospect...also the No. 6 shortstop prospect by MLB.com.

2011

Began season with A High Desert ... recorded a season-high 5 hits May 25 vs. Modesto (5x6, 2 R,HR, 3 RBI)...hit .318 (34x107) with 20 runs scored, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 9 RBI in 25 games in May ... promoted to Jackson on June 23...on disabled list with a concussion, June 27-Aug. 18, including a rehab assignment with Peoria, Aug. 14-18 ... played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League ... went 4-for-5 with 3 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 home run and 4 RBI to earn MVP honors in the 6th-annual Arizona Fall League Rising Stars...rated by MLB.com as the No. 52 overall prospect and No. 6 shortstop...listed by Baseball America as the Mariners No. 5 prospect.

2010

Spent majority of season with Clinton, but also appeared in 1 game with West Tenn ... named Clinton's Offensive Player of the Year by the Mariners ... named to the Midwest League midseason and postseason All-Star Team...also named the top MiLB shortstop by Baseball America on their postseason All-Star list...was 1 of only 3 players in the minors to record a 20 HR-20 SB season ... led the Midwest League in homers, breaking the 49-year old Clinton franchise record for single-season homers.

2009

Began pro career with the Arizona League Mariners, appearing in 10 games ... hit .067 (1x15) in first 4 games, but rebounded to hit .429 over final 6 games (12x28, 4 R, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI) ... promoted to Everett on Sept. 1...hit safely in 5 of 6 games with an at-bat with 3 multi-hit games.