Tribe’s Francisco talented, but likely headed to farm

The 26-year-old outfielder appears headed to Triple-A Buffalo for the fourth year.

GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The way Ben Francisco sees it, he’s not asking for all that much.

“That’s all I ask for, to just get the opportunity to play,” Francisco said. “Last year I got the opportunity, and I think I did pretty well with it. I can handle whatever they put in front of me.”

Unless something changes, however, what the Indians will put in front of Francisco at the end of spring training is yet another plane ticket to Buffalo.

Nothing against that fair city, but this would be the fourth year in Triple-A for the 26-year-old outfielder.

“I think I can get better as a baseball player, and I’d like to get better at the big-league level,” Francisco said. “But, it’s not up to me to decide that.”

It’s not that the Indians don’t like Francisco, who is batting .333 this spring. The easygoing former UCLA standout is one of the most amiable players on Cleveland’s spring training roster. The team certainly had to like what it saw from Francisco on the field as well.

He won the International League batting title with a .318 average and stole 22 bases. Francisco also fared well in 25 games with Cleveland, batting .274 with five doubles and three home runs among his 17 hits.

Francisco hit the game-winning home run against Tampa Bay in his first big-league start.

It seems like enough to earn more than a cup of big-league coffee. The Indians, however, are committed to Grady Sizemore in center field, Franklin Gutierrez in right and the platoon of Jason Michaels and David Dellucci in left.

So, barring injury, guess who’s shuffling off to Buffalo again?

“Triple-A is a tough level,” manager Eric Wedge said.

“Most people are not happy to be there. But, time in the minor leagues is important time. It’s time you don’t scoff at. It’s time to develop as a player — something that’s tough to do at the big-league level.”

Wedge did say Francisco is at “the top of the list” of outfielders who would be called up if needed. He also said there are areas of Francisco’s game that can be improved.

“He can get a better feel for learning how to steal bases and he can get better in left and right field, because he’s always been most comfortable in center field,” Wedge said.

“But I believe all those things are going to come for him with repetition.”

Francisco’s situation is further complicated by the presence of outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who is expected to return sometime in May from Tommy John elbow surgery.

Choo is out of minor-league options.

Francisco still has options remaining because he was added to the 40-man roster in November of 2006.

“It becomes a numbers game,” Wedge said. “I think highly of Ben Francisco. He has a lot more in front of him.”

Francisco has talent, experience and motivation. All he lacks, at this point, is opportunity.

“If you feel you can do it, you always have that to fall back on,” Francisco said. “I believe I can do it. Every day I’m out there is just another opportunity to prove that.”