Francisco Returns to Peoria...as Pitcher

[ChiefsVoice]

Peoria, IL -The Peoria Chiefs, in conjunction with the Chicago Cubs have announced that infielder-turned-pitcher Alfredo Francisco has rejoined the Chiefs and will be in uniform in time for Saturday’s 7:00 PM game at Quad Cities. To make room on the roster, injured catcher Jonathan Douillard, who left the team for surgery two weeks ago, was officially placed on the Disabled List.

Francisco joined the Chiefs on April 7th as a third baseman and appeared in four games as a batter hitting .154 (2-for-13). He then appeared in one game as a pitcher, tossing a scoreless 9th inning against Wisconsin on April 17th and hitting over 90 with his fastball. Francisco was send down to extended spring three days later to begin the conversion to the mound. The right-hander went 2-3 with a 4.19 ERA in 11 games with the Mesa Cubs in the Arizona Rookie League including five starts. In 38 2/3 innings he struck out 31 and walked 13 while allowing just one homer.

Francisco spent most of 2004 in Boise batting .187 with four homers and 27 RBI in 61 games. He also played 24 games for Chiefs manager Julio Garcia at Lansing. In 2003, Francisco started in Mesa for 41 games where he batted .263 with 19 RBI before earning a promotion to Boise for the final 14 games. The Dominican native signed with the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in 2002.

Douillard injured his knee in Fort Wayne on July 29th while turning to cover a play at the plate. He left the Chiefs August 4th to see doctors in Chicago about season ending surgery. In nine games in Peoria, the former Vanderbilt star batted .200 (6-for-20) with one homer, one double and three RBI.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That's interesting to hear - he wasn't in Mesa for too long. I assume he'll be relieving in Peoria.

[ChiefsVoice]

That's interesting to hear - he wasn't in Mesa for too long. I assume he'll be relieving in Peoria.

 

yeah he will be in our bullpen. we have a reliever going up to Daytona on Monday who was supposed to go up yesterday but we couldnt get a player from Boise cause they are in Canada and had transportation issues and Julio didnt want us heading into a 5 game/3 day stretch with just 23 players.

 

Francisco tossed 38 2/3 innings at Mesa. he will probably get in tonight since Nolen cant go, Blevins being held for game 2 tomorrow. Phelps has thrown 2 days in a row, Dickscon 3 of 5 days and Jones was getting some treatment today. So that leaves us Mendez and Layden rested.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

That's interesting to hear - he wasn't in Mesa for too long. I assume he'll be relieving in Peoria.

 

yeah he will be in our bullpen. we have a reliever going up to Daytona on Monday who was supposed to go up yesterday but we couldnt get a player from Boise cause they are in Canada and had transportation issues and Julio didnt want us heading into a 5 game/3 day stretch with just 23 players.

 

Francisco tossed 38 2/3 innings at Mesa. he will probably get in tonight since Nolen cant go, Blevins being held for game 2 tomorrow. Phelps has thrown 2 days in a row, Dickscon 3 of 5 days and Jones was getting some treatment today. So that leaves us Mendez and Layden rested.

 

Are you allowed to tell us who's headed up to (or, geographically speaking, down to) Daytona?

[ChiefsVoice]

Are you allowed to tell us who's headed up to (or, geographically speaking, down to) Daytona?

 

Just in case there are any issues again or a change of mind I'll wait until tomorrow. I'll ask tonight if it is public knowledge I'll put it up from the hotel. The player did know he was going up and a tickets had been purchased, but I want to wait until I get the go-ahead.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Are you allowed to tell us who's headed up to (or, geographically speaking, down to) Daytona?

 

Just in case there are any issues again or a change of mind I'll wait until tomorrow. I'll ask tonight if it is public knowledge I'll put it up from the hotel. The player did know he was going up and a tickets had been purchased, but I want to wait until I get the go-ahead.

 

I understand, thanks for the heads up though. :)

[Laura]

If a reliever is moving up, will another player be moving up to Peoria? That should open up another slot, since Douillard was DL'd for Francisco's spot.

 

Does Daytona have roster space? I wonder what the corresponding moves will be.

 

Is this when Gwaltney moves up?

 

:-k

[ChiefsVoice]

If a reliever is moving up, will another player be moving up to Peoria? That should open up another slot, since Douillard was DL'd for Francisco's spot.

 

Does Daytona have roster space? I wonder what the corresponding moves will be.

 

Is this when Gwaltney moves up?

 

:-k

 

My understanding is that we are getting someone from Boise before our game here on Wednesday, but that may not be accurate....And from what I heard on the bus, Daytona has a pitcher who just underwent an appendectomy and that is the reason for the move.

[Laura]

ouch. Thanks for the update! :)

[Chris]

ouch. Thanks for the update! :)

 

What she said!

[Chris]

If a reliever is moving up, will another player be moving up to Peoria? That should open up another slot, since Douillard was DL'd for Francisco's spot.

 

Does Daytona have roster space? I wonder what the corresponding moves will be.

 

Is this when Gwaltney moves up?

 

:-k

 

My understanding is that we are getting someone from Boise before our game here on Wednesday, but that may not be accurate....And from what I heard on the bus, Daytona has a pitcher who just underwent an appendectomy and that is the reason for the move.

 

Talked to Bo down in Daytona, he said the player who had the appendectomy is Clay Rapada

[ChiefsVoice]

[

Are you allowed to tell us who's headed up to (or, geographically speaking, down to) Daytona?

 

Michael Phelps will leave us tomorrow morning....0-1 1.59 ERA 12 games, 17 inn, 12 hits, 3 bb, 17 k....by far been our best reliever...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

[

Are you allowed to tell us who's headed up to (or, geographically speaking, down to) Daytona?

 

Michael Phelps will leave us tomorrow morning....0-1 1.59 ERA 12 games, 17 inn, 12 hits, 3 bb, 17 k....by far been our best reliever...

 

That's who I thought, given his numbers. Thanks, Nathan!