Francisco: New face among Phillies regulars in the outfield

There was one constant in Ben Francisco's frenetic winter. At his wedding in Kansas City, Mo., Josh Barfield was a groomsman. In Scottsdale, Ariz., the two live across the street from one another. They went to Phoenix Suns games whenever the Lakers (Francisco's team) or Rockets (Barfield's team) came to town. They lifted weights together. They hit together. Just about every other night, they shared dinner.

Close friends for four years, few words were needed to understand the opportunity presented to Francisco once Jayson Werth signed in Washington.

"You could tell from Day 1 he was ready," Barfield said.

Finally, the two were separated earlier this week. Barfield, a minor-league infielder with the Phillies, stayed in Florida as the big-league team came north. Francisco was promptly anointed the starting rightfielder by manager Charlie Manuel.

"He's going to get a chance to play a lot," Manuel said.

And so begins the task of replacing a $126 million man and the team's most productive hitter from a season ago. Francisco has quietly yearned for the chance, having languished on the Phillies bench since a summer trade in 2009 that sent Francisco and some other guy to Philadelphia.

Right, Cliff Lee was the headliner of that trade and Francisco the toss-in. But Francisco, 29, was an everyday player in Cleveland before the deal and certainly not a terrible one. He posted a .770 OPS in 499 plate appearances in 2008 and a .758 OPS in 308 plate appearances in 2009 with the Indians.

The only problem was he came to a team with three all-star outfielders.

"I don't think anything is different," said one of them, Shane Victorino. "I don't think people understand - Benny was, and can be, an everyday big-leaguer. There was a point where he played every day in Cleveland and was very successful."

This spring, Francisco was very successful, too. He hit .361 (26 for 72) and tied for the team lead with five home runs.

The entire outfield enjoyed a productive spring. Victorino, coming off a season in which his power numbers rose but on-base percentage suffered, hit .304 with a .380 OBP. He will bat leadoff Friday.

Raul Ibanez also had an encouraging month. He had seven extra-base hits and finished with a .253 batting average.

Each one of the outfielders must have a role in compensating for the loss of Werth. All eyes will be on Francisco because he's the replacement and new face among the regulars, but it's impossible to expect Werth-like production from him.

Francisco begins with the same blank slate Werth did in 2008 when he became a regular. Manuel often made the comparison between the two players this spring.

"When we start the season, Francisco's going to get a chance to play," Manuel said. "In our organization, people think he can hit. I think he can hit, too."

Francisco stays mostly quiet about the situation, saying he's learned a great deal from Werth and his time on the bench. Last season, Manuel used him in just 88 games (197 plate appearances).

He took the extra cage work in stride and usually could be found in the clubhouse fiddling with his iPad. (Francisco always seems to be the first one in the room with the newest technology or shoes. Hence, the nickname "Benny Fresh.")

"He's very quiet," Victorino said.

Barfield befriended Francisco in 2007 when he was traded to Cleveland. They didn't know each other but soon found they shared the same interests: basketball and football.

"He's a very laid-back guy," Barfield said. "He takes everything in stride. That's why people are drawn to him. He's always the same; never too high or too low. He's a guy you can have a lot of fun around. He's always belly-laughing."

Victorino sees a player ready to break out.

"To me," Victorino said, "if he had his opportunity, he'd be playing every day."