Player: Kohl Franklin
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6’4 Weight: 190 Age: 20 Bats/Throws: R/R Current Level: A South Bend
MLB.com Rank: 7th in Cubs System
Drafted: 2018 (6th Round,188th Overall by Cubs)
Hometown: Broken Arrow, OK
Franklin fell to the sixth round in the 2018 draft, where the Cubs selected him 188th overall and signed him for $540,000 (closer to third round money). He was regarded as the top prospect coming out of Oklahoma, but he slid in the draft because of a broken right foot that caused him to miss most of his senior year at Broken Arrow high school in Oklahoma.
Kohl Franklin is also the nephew of former MLB pitcher Ryan Franklin (Played from 1999-2011 with Mariners, Phillies, Reds and Cardinals).
Scouting Grades
His fastball sat low-mid 80s during his junior year of high school but it began to tick up by the end of that season. In his limited time last season (10 starts at Low-A Eugene, 1 start at A-South Bend), his velocity was up to 91-97 mph. He has an advanced feel for his changeup with good fading action. His curveball has fairly high spin rate numbers, but has looked average to scouts. However, the spin rates suggest their is room for his curveball to become a really solid third plus pitch. If he can have all three working, there’s no reason he can’t crack the Cubs rotation some time down the line. An ETA on Franklin is probably the 2022 or 2023 season.
One of my favorite things about Franklin is his aggressive approach. He attacks hitters! He won’t mess around and walk a bunch of guys, which will suit him well as a starting pitcher. The Cubs have struggled tremendously recently to develop starting pitching, but Kohl Franklin is someone I’m excited about and although it’s early in his development, I can’t wait to watch him continue to work his way up to Wrigley.
Kohl Franklin Stats
