Franklyn Germán

Franklyn Germán

Germán with the White Sox in spring training in 2009
Free agent
Relief pitcher
Born: (1980-01-20) January 20, 1980
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 7, 2002, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2008 season)
Win–loss record 9–7
Earned run average 4.25
Strikeouts 114
Teams

Franklyn Miguel Germán Madé (born January 20, 1980 in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic) is a right-handed relief pitcher who is a free agent.

Professional career

Germán was acquired by the Detroit Tigers on July 5, 2002, in a three-team trade between the Tigers, Oakland Athletics, and New York Yankees. Germán, first baseman Carlos Peña, and pitcher Jeremy Bonderman were traded by Oakland to Detroit in exchange for pitcher Jeff Weaver, whom Oakland then traded to New York for pitcher Ted Lilly, outfielder John-Ford Griffin, and minor league pitcher Jason Arnold. Germán never played for Oakland, though he did spend 1997–2002 in their rookie league, Single-A, and Double-A minor league affiliates before being traded.

During his rookie season (2003), he was known for his questionable ability to get batters out and as a result was generally unpopular with Detroit Tigers fans. Accordingly, he was subject to large amounts of criticism from the long-suffering Tigers fans, who at the time had not seen their team finish with a winning record since 1993.

Germán's inconsistency on the mound was in contrast to the Tigers' two primary starters at the time, Bonderman and lefty Mike Maroth, who were regarded to possess Major League talent, but frequently suffered from insufficient run support on a team in the midst of having the worst season in American League history — that year, the Tigers set a new record for total losses (119), eclipsing the previous record (117) held by the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics. After spending much of the 2004 season on the Tigers' Triple-A minor league team, the Toledo Mud Hens, his form on the mound improved greatly, and he made the Tigers' 2005 opening day roster.

After a mediocre spring training in 2006, the Tigers left Germán unprotected on the waiver wire by designating him for another assignment to Toledo. He did not clear waivers, however, and on April 4, 2006, he was claimed off waivers by the Florida Marlins, and earned a spot on their opening day roster.

Germán became a free agent after the 2006 season, and on November 17, 2006, signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.

Germán pitched in the Rangers 2008 season opener against the Seattle Mariners on March 31, 2008. It was the first time Germán had pitched outside the minors since 2006. He was designated for assignment by the Rangers on May 21, 2008, and on May 30 declined a minor-league assignment and became a free agent.

On June 4, 2008, Germán signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was traded to the Chicago White Sox on August 11, and assigned to Triple-A Charlotte. He became a free agent at the end of the season and re-signed with the Chicago White Sox. On July 10, 2009, Germán was released by the Chicago White Sox.[1]

In 2011 Germán pitched for Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League, posting a 4.15 ERA in seven appearances.

Scouting report

He is a particularly large man for a pitcher, standing 6 ft 7 in (2.04 m) tall and weighing 298 lb (135 kg), which lends him a degree of batter intimidation, like most taller-than-average pitchers possess. He works mostly in middle relief and sometimes as a set-up man for the team's closer.

PITCHf/x data from 2008 records Germán throwing a four-seam fastball averaging about 94 mph and a changeup averaging 85 mph.[2]

Personal life

Germán is married and has one child with his wife, Luisa. They spend their off-seasons residing in Palenque, Dominican Republic.

Germán usually plays for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter Baseball League, and played for the World Team during the 2002 All-Star Futures Game, which was won, 5–1, by the World Team.

References

  1. ↑ The Associated Press (2009-01-12). "White Sox invite 18 to camp". International Herald Tribune.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
  2. ↑ "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Franklyn German". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved 15 October 2012.

External links

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