Maikel Franco to Take Batting Practice Wednesday, Hopes to Play Again This Season

With the Phillies season coming down to the final month, third baseman Maikel Franco will take batting practice on Wednesday with the hopes of playing before the end of the year.

"Once he does that -- getting a few at-bats and taking some batting practice -- I might run him right in there if he's 100 percent," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said.

Franco has been out since August 11 with a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist, but was the first breath of fresh air in a lost season.  Once called up, he showed he belonged at the major league level, hitting .277 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs in just 77 games in the majors.

The Phillies have nothing to play for right now, so there's no reason to rush him back into action, but it's a good sign that he might be able to play and end his rookie season on a high note.