Seven years later, Francoeur fighting to simply make Braves roster
KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Nick Swisher sat down at his locker in the Braves' clubhouse, the crowd of media that had surrounded the stall next to his dispersing.
"You're a legend around here, bro," Swisher said.
Jeff Francoeur picked up a cardboard moving box and began tearing the tape off. "High school football," he said, smiling. "Look at the films ... Got them right here."
Francoeur made his return to the organization Wednesday, 48 hours after signing a deal that brought the outfielder back to the team that drafted him, and the one with which he became a 21-year-old phenom.
But that was 11 years ago, and the Francoeur that entered Champions Stadium on Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports complex for a rainy first day of full-squad workouts isn't even guaranteed a roster spot. Instead, he's joining a loaded group of challengers for a reserve spot while on a minor league contract.
None of that, though, is dampening his enthusiasm of being back in a Braves uniform for the first time since he was traded in 2009.
"I honestly couldn't imagine this about 10 days ago," the 32-year-old said. "It all kind of just came together quick, but I'm excited. ... Really it kind of just came down to feeling comfortable here."
Francoeur said after he came to the realization that he was going to have to sign a non-roster contract that he had discussions with other teams. But after bouncing around from the Mets (2009-10), Rangers (2010), Royals (2011-13), Giants (2013), Padres (2014) and Phillies (2015), a return was too alluring to pass up for the Parkview High School (Lilburn, Ga.) grad, whom the Braves No. 23 pick in the 2002 draft.
"There were two or three other teams we talked to that were going to be good opportunities," he said. "But the idea of staying home, not taking my family half way across the country or somewhere we didn't want to be. ... I want to play where I enjoy myself and the idea of waking up every day in Atlanta where you live, I've had so many great memories."
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said he had discussed a return with Francoeur in early December, but nothing materialized at that time. They talked again last weekend, and his pitch to the outfielder was clear.
"An opportunity and some depth," Gonzalez said. " ... The year he had last year. He had a pretty good year and a good role."
After hitting .204 in 2013 and .083 in '14, Francoeur bounced back by hitting .258/.286/.433 in Philadelphia last season with 13 home runs and 45 RBI in 326 at-bats. That amounted to his highest average since 2011's .285 when he was with Kansas City, and was bolstered by his hitting at a .367 clip in 31 plate appearances as a pinch hitter.
"I feel real good and confident about how I came back and played last year and played," he said. "That was my big thing, after 2014, to be able to come back and have the year that I did."
He took the city by storm in '05 as part of the Baby Braves -- the collection of 18 rookies who helped secure a 14th straight division crown -- appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated that season with the headline 'The Natural.' Francoeur hit .300/.336/.549 and smacked 14 home runs in 257 at-bats, then followed that with back-to-back 100-RBI seasons with a combined 48 homers in 2006 and '07.
But his average sunk to .239 in 2008 and .250 in 82 games in '09 before he was dealt to the Mets for Ryan Church. In a cruel twist of fate, his first road trip after that trade was back in Atlanta for a four-game series.
"I know the ending of how I left wasn't great, but I had three great years here and a lot of good times with a lot of people," Francoeur said. "Been to the playoffs, playing for Bobby (Cox), playing with Chipper (Jones), (John Smoltz), (Tom) Glavine. Stuff that I love and now I'm looking forward to being that older guy and helping some of these younger guys."
That includes shortstop Dansby Swanson. The organization's top-rated prospect, he too is a local product (Marietta High School) with the expectations of some day carrying a franchise on his shoulders. Francoeur laughed when asked if he could offer some advice.
"I think just a few things I'll be able to teach him and tell him," he said.
But first he'll have to fight his way on to the roster. The Braves already have plenty of veteran options for backup roles in the outfield, including Emilio Bonifacio, Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Kelly Johnson (a fellow former Baby Brave), all of who are on major-league deals. Then there's the team's Minor League Player of the Year, Mallex Smith and Braxton Davidson.
Per Jon Heyman, Francoeur can request his release by March 31 if he's not on the 25-man. If he makes the team, he'll receive $1 million deal, and has another $1 million in incentives.
"I would think just the main goal is to make the team," Francoeur said. "Other than that, I'm not here for any other reason. I think that's anybody's goal coming in ... but it's just have fun.
"I think I look back to when I was here last and just how different I think i't s going to be for me this time. I'm not putting the pressure on myself, feeling like I have to do this, or do that, just enjoying myself."
Follow Cory McCartney on Twitter @coryjmccartney and Facebook. His book, 'Tales from the Atlanta Braves Dugout: A Collection of the Greatest Braves Stories Ever Told,' comes out April 5, 2016.
