<![CDATA[It seems like just yesterday when the Fort Worth Cats announced Jose Canseco was going to join their team for some sort of version of “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings”.
Thursday…they might have topped themselves. And I don’t think I could be any happier.
We are pleased to announce that Julio Franco is going to play for the Fort Worth Cats in the opening homestand! Read: http://t.co/97kymYrKYm
— Fort Worth Cats (@FortWorthCats) May 15, 2014
Yup, the ageless Julio Franco is set to suit up for the Cats when they square off against the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings beginning Tuesday.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to play and coach in Fort Worth and reconnect with my friends, former teammates and Texas Rangers staff members,” the 55-year-old infielder said. “I love Fort Worth and I’m very excited about the opportunity to work with the younger players and entertain the fans.”
Franco’s addition means he’ll be able to add another notch to the old “Decades I’ve Played In” belt. After being drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1978, the career .298 hitter has appeared in games spanning five decades. Equally as impressive is the guy’s hit total. With more than 4200 scattered across professional leagues here in the States, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and the Dominican Republic…Franco is one of just a handful of players (Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Hank Aaron, Jigger Statz, Stan Musial and Ichiro Suzuki are the others) to accomplish the feat.
“I’m excited to have Julio as both a hitting coach and player,” Fort Worth skipper Mike Marshall added. “Our players and fans are very lucky to get this opportunity and I’m sure Julio will make an immediate impact on the players and the community.”
Franco’s stint with the team will last the first nine games of the season. A year ago, Canseco lasted six…hitting .238 with one home run.]]>
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