Maikel Franco bats seventh for Phillies in major-league debut

ATLANTA — Maikel Franco, the Phillies' youngest position player in 14 years, will make his major-league debut Tuesday at third base. He will bat seventh.

Franco makes his debut at 22 years, 7 days old. The Dominican infielder signed in 2010 for $100,000 and burst onto prospect lists last season with 31 homers in the minors. He recovered from early struggles at triple-A Lehigh Valley this season to post a .257 batting average and .727 OPS with 33 doubles and 16 homers.

The list of Phillies position players younger than Franco in the last 30 seasons is two names long: Jimmy Rollins and Scott Rolen. Rollins debuted at 21 years, 295 days old. Rolen was 21 years, 119 days old when he debuted in 1996. Both became franchise cornerstones by age 25.

Here is Ryne Sandberg's lineup against Atlanta lefthander Mike Minor:

1. Ben Revere 8
2. Jimmy Rollins 6
3. Marlon Byrd 9
4. Ryan Howard 3
5. Darin Ruf 7
6. Carlos Ruiz 2
7. Maikel Franco 5
8. Freddy Galvis 4
9. Kyle Kendrick 1

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