Franco, Hollands win June Minor League honors
Third baseman Maikel Franco of the Reading Fightin Phils is the Phillies Minor League Player of the Month for June. Pitching honors for the month go to left-hander Mario Hollands of the Clearwater Threshers.
Promoted to double-A Reading from single-A Clearwater on June 19, Franco batted .404 in 25 games during the month between the two levels. The 20-year-old had the Florida State League lead in total bases (152), extra-base hits (40) and doubles (23) at the time of his promotion.
Signed as an amateur free agent in 2010, Franco hit safely in his first 11 games at the double-A level and has a 1.156 OPS through his first 13 contests for Reading. Going into play tonight Franco leads all Phillies minor leaguers with 20 home runs and 63 RBI.
Born in Azua, Dominican Republic, Franco will suit up for the World Team at this month's Futures Game, to be held July 14 at Citi Field.
Hollands, drafted in the 10th round of the 2010 draft out of UC Santa Barbara, made four starts for the Threshers during the month going 2-1 with a 1.00 ERA. The 24-year-old struck out 23 batters while issuing only three walks in 27.0 innings.
Over his last 11 appearances, eight of which have been starts, the 6-foot-5 lefty has posted a 1.51 ERA allowing only nine earned runs in 53.2 innings of work.
A native of El Cerrito, Calif., Hollands posted his first-career shutout in a 7.0-inning Threshers win, June 9, versus Dunedin.