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  6. article_body => "<p>CLEARWATER, Fla. \u2014&nbsp;Maikel Franco has reported to Phillies camp early. He weighed in at 225 pounds, down 10 from the end of last season, and he looks strong. He is sporting a new leg kick at the plate. He says it will help him maintain balance throughout his swing. It all looked pretty good Thursday as he lined balls over the left field wall during batting practice.<\/p>\n<p>Franco, 26, looks like a man ready to compete for a job, and that\u2019s good because he is in for a competition. On Wednesday, manager Gabe Kapler alluded to a best-man-wins duel between Franco and Scott Kingery for the third base job <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/maikel-franco-and-scott-kingery-may-battle-be-phillies-starting-third-baseman-wham\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>(see story)<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.&nbsp;On Thursday, Kapler met with Franco for 10 minutes and told him that indeed is what will happen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe explained everything,\u201d Franco said. \u201cI understand the situation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery year, I come in here and I try to forget I have a position and compete and that\u2019s what is happening right now. I just compete and don\u2019t think about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course, this third base competition is contingent on the Phillies standing pat at third base. They could still sign Manny Machado or Mike Moustakas and that would eliminate the competition.<\/p>\n<p>Franco admitted that last season was difficult for him. On two occasions, it appeared as if he was being phased out of the lineup. An injury to J.P. Crawford thrust Franco back into the lineup in late June and he went on a two-month tear and ended up leading the team in batting average (.270). He finished second on the team in OPS (.780) and third in homers (22).<\/p>\n<p>That wasn\u2019t enough to stop the front office from pursuing Machado as a free agent. The pursuit actually began last summer when the Phils unsuccessfully tried to trade for Machado.<\/p>\n<p>At home in the Dominican Republic, Franco heard plenty of Manny talk this winter. He also heard his name in trade speculation.<\/p>\n<p>Is he surprised to still be with the Phillies?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot really,\u201d he said. \u201cI know they talk about trading me and things like that but I\u2019m happy to be here with my guys and that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not even thinking about what might happen. I just think about what I have to do to improve, what I have to do to get better. I just try to stay away from it all and do my job.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLast year was tough on me. But 2018 is in the past and I\u2019m focused on 2019.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Maybe that\u2019s in Philadelphia. Maybe that\u2019s somewhere else.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just have to be me and do my work and get ready and whatever happens happens,\u201d Franco said.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/myteams-nbc-sports?utm_tags=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a>&nbsp;to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 dir=\"ltr\"><strong>More on the Phillies<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/jake-arrieta-reveals-root-knee-injury-expresses-optimism-manny-machado-bryce-harper-front\">Arrieta reveals root of knee injury, expresses optimism on Machado-Harper front<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/after-winter-challenges-gabe-kapler-wants-focus-players\">After a winter of challenges, Gabe Kapler wants to focus on the players<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/aaron-nola-phillies-reach-long-term-contract-extension\">Aaron Nola and Phillies reach long-term extension <\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/maikel-franco-and-scott-kingery-may-battle-be-phillies-starting-third-baseman-wham\">A best-man-wins battle at third base in Phillies camp? Maybe<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/phillies\/jt-realmuto-and-jean-segura-should-help-phillies-in-unique-way\">J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura should help Phillies in a unique way<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Phillies

Phillies

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Maikel Franco has reported to Phillies camp early. He weighed in at 225 pounds, down 10 from the end of last season, and he looks strong. He is sporting a new leg kick at the plate. He says it will help him maintain balance throughout his swing. It all looked pretty good Thursday as he lined balls over the left field wall during batting practice.

Franco, 26, looks like a man ready to compete for a job, and that’s good because he is in for a competition. On Wednesday, manager Gabe Kapler alluded to a best-man-wins duel between Franco and Scott Kingery for the third base job (see story). On Thursday, Kapler met with Franco for 10 minutes and told him that indeed is what will happen.

“He explained everything,” Franco said. “I understand the situation.

“Every year, I come in here and I try to forget I have a position and compete and that’s what is happening right now. I just compete and don’t think about it.”

Of course, this third base competition is contingent on the Phillies standing pat at third base. They could still sign Manny Machado or Mike Moustakas and that would eliminate the competition.

Franco admitted that last season was difficult for him. On two occasions, it appeared as if he was being phased out of the lineup. An injury to J.P. Crawford thrust Franco back into the lineup in late June and he went on a two-month tear and ended up leading the team in batting average (.270). He finished second on the team in OPS (.780) and third in homers (22).

 

That wasn’t enough to stop the front office from pursuing Machado as a free agent. The pursuit actually began last summer when the Phils unsuccessfully tried to trade for Machado.

At home in the Dominican Republic, Franco heard plenty of Manny talk this winter. He also heard his name in trade speculation.

Is he surprised to still be with the Phillies?

“Not really,” he said. “I know they talk about trading me and things like that but I’m happy to be here with my guys and that’s a good thing.

“I’m not even thinking about what might happen. I just think about what I have to do to improve, what I have to do to get better. I just try to stay away from it all and do my job.

“Last year was tough on me. But 2018 is in the past and I’m focused on 2019.”

Maybe that’s in Philadelphia. Maybe that’s somewhere else.

“I just have to be me and do my work and get ready and whatever happens happens,” Franco said.

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