MWL1 Peoria Chiefs

Chiefs Get First 2011 Draftee in RHP PJ Francescon

Published on June 25, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Peoria Chiefs News Release


Peoria, IL - The Peoria Chiefs and Chicago Cubs have announced that Patrick "PJ" Francescon has been promoted to the Chiefs roster ahead of Saturday's 6:30 p.m. game against Kane County. A 2011 40th round pick out of Trevecca Nazarene University in Tennessee, Francescon is the first 2011 draftee to join the Chiefs roster. Since Peoria was two players below the 25 player roster limit there is no corresponding roster move.

Francescon made his professional debut on June 21 for the Arizona Rookie League Mesa Cubs and threw two shutout innings with two strikeouts to earn a save. This season he played college ball at Trevecca Nazarene University, a NAIA school located in Nashville, Tennessee. Francescon went 6-2 with a 3.38 ERA and had a team-high six complete games as a junior in 2011. He struck out 66 batters in 68.2 innings pitched this spring including a career-high 14 strikeouts against Martin Methodist in the conference tournament. Francescon was ranked in the top 10 of the TranSouth Conference in walks per nine innings (1.57) and fourth in strikeouts per nine (8.65).

The Nolensville, TN native transferred from Middle Tennessee State prior to the 2010-11 season. Pitched in 11 games at MTSU as a freshman going 1-4 with a 9.11 ERA with six starts and 17 strikeouts in 27 innings. An injury limited Francescon to just seven innings pitched as a sophomore and he struck out five in two outings. The 22-year-old pitched at Ravenwood High School where he was an All-Midstate selection as a junior with 95 strikeouts in 66 innings and a 1.60 ERA.

The Chiefs host Kane County Saturday at 6:30 p.m. with post-game Fireworks and Halfway to the Holidays with a food drive for the Salvation Army. The first 300 fans that bring in at least four canned goods, get a free ticket to Saturday's game. Sunday June 26 is a 1:00 start against Kane County with Sesame Street Day and a Chiefs Tumbler Giveaway courtesy of CAT. There will be Sesame Street characters on hand and fans can play catch on the field after gates open at 11:30 a.m.

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