
Chiefs Ace Promoted to Daytona
Published on May 21, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release
PEORIA, IL- The Peoria Chiefs and Chicago Cubs have announced that right-handed pitcher P.J. Francescon has been promoted to Advanced-A Daytona. He was not immediately placed on the Chiefs roster prior to Monday's 12:05 p.m. game in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Francescon quickly established himself as the Chiefs ace in 2012 going 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA in nine starts. He struck out 42 batters in 53 1/3 innings and walked just 14 while holding MWL batters to a .155 batting average. Francescon went at least six innings in each of his last six starts while racking up five wins in those starts between April 22 and May 17. He threw a career-high 7 1/3 innings on May 12 against Burlington and struck out a career best nine in his first start at Beloit on April 6. Francescon leaves the Chiefs as the Midwest League leader in WHIP at 0.79 and the MWL leader in fewest baserunners per nine innings. He is second in average allowed at .155, third in innings pitched at 53 1/3, tied for fourth in wins with five and sixth in ERA at 1.86.
Drafted in the 40th round of the 2011 draft out of Treveca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, Francescon was 1-4 last season in Peoria with a 3.89 ERA and two saves. He started just twice in 17 games for the Chiefs last year and struck out 40 batters in 32 2/3 innings. He finished the 2011 season by making one regular season start for Advanced-A Daytona and then threw once out of the bullpen as Daytona won the Florida State League Championship.
The Chiefs will play Monday's game in Cedar Rapids with just 24 players on the roster and are expected to replace Francescon after Tuesday's league-wide off day. The Chiefs return home on Wednesday for a seven-game homestand and RH Jose Rosario will slide up a day and take Francescon's slot in the starting rotation against Clinton at 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday fans can get $1 hot dogs, $1 ice cream sandwiches and $1 fountain sodas. Thursday the Chiefs celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Peoria Chiefs Stadium with the biggest fireworks show in stadium history, $1 draft beers and fountain sodas for Thirsty Thursday and 2002 throwback jerseys. On Friday at 6:30 p.m. one luck fan 18 or over will win $10,000 as part of the 10th Anniversary celebration. Fireworks will again light up the night sky on Saturday to celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the 2002 MWL Championship and the 2002 throwback jerseys will be auctioned off during the game. Tickets are available at the Peoria Chiefs Stadium Box Office, by calling 1-866-MYTICKET or online at www.peoriachiefs.com.
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