Frank Francisco

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name=Frank Francisco
position=Relief pitcher
team=Texas Rangers
number=50
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|9|11
birthplace=Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
debutdate=May 14
debutyear=2004
debutteam=Texas Rangers
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=9-8
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=3.72
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=198
teams=
*Texas Rangers (by|2004, by|2006-present)

Franklin Francisco (born September 11, 1979 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Texas Rangers.

Francisco was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Boston Red Sox. He was traded by the Red Sox to the Chicago White Sox on July 31, by|2002, along with Byeong Hak An in exchange for reliever Bob Howry. On July 1, by|2003, the White Sox acquired Carl Everett from the Texas Rangers in exchange for three players to be named later. On July 25, 2003, Francisco, Josh Rupe, and minor leaguer Anthony Webster were sent to the Rangers to complete the trade.

Francisco is best known for participating in one of the ugliest incidents of fan violence. On September 13, mlby|2004, he threw a folding chair into the crowd in a game against the Oakland Athletics. [ [http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/7680194 "Rangers' Francisco arrested for hitting fans with thrown chair"] . September 14, 2004, "CBS.com". Retrieved on October 4, 2008.] The incident initially escalated when Rangers pitcher Doug Brocail charged from the Rangers' bullpen to confront a fan, Craig Bueno, who, members of the Rangers later claimed, had been heckling the Rangers pitcher about his stillborn child. The chair thrown by Francisco hit Jennifer Bueno in the face and caused a cut, which required stiches. Francisco was arrested and on June 30, 2005, he pleaded no contest to the charges. He was sentenced to anger management classes and a work program. A civil suit brought by the woman hit with the chair was settled on January 12, 2007. Terms of the settlement included an undisclosed payment and a public apology.

Francisco was suspended for the balance of the 2004 season, and missed the entire mlby|2005 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. After two years away from the Rangers, Francisco rejoined the club on September 8, mlby|2006 [http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060908&content_id=1652541&vkey=news_tex&fext=.jsp&c_id=tex] .

After a poor spring training, Francisco started by|2007 with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks. Following an injury to Eric Gagné in mid-April, Francisco was recalled to the majors. Francisco spent time in mlby|2008 as the Rangers' closer after an injury to regular closer C.J. Wilson.

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