General Capsule: Has given team greatopportunities to win games... always been in between the startersand relievers role... he is capable of doing both any time... hisfastball continues to get better with a range between 88 to 91MPH... breaking ball has improved.
AT USF (2004): Started 10 games and made 21appearances during his junior year... won five games during theseason and picked up his first win going seven strong innings andstruck out five against Northwestern (2/14)... went eight solidinnings and struck out three to earn his second win against Pacific(3/7)... notched his third win and picked up six strikeouts in sixplus innings versus Portland (3/21)... picked up final win of theseason in a two inning relief stint where he struck out two versusSonoma State (4/13).
AT USF (2003): Showed moments of dominance as asophomore... appeared in 18 games with three starts... recordedseason-high five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of relief against Cal(2/4)... collected lone win of the season with 1.0 innings ofrelief against Sonoma State (2/11)... started in USF's win at #6Stanford (4/1), striking out two in 4.1 innings of work.
AT USF (2002): Struggled through injuriestoward the end of the season... still made 18 appearances, startingon the mound six times for a total of 38.1 innings... struck out29.
PREP CAREER: Three-year letterman at ChaminadeHigh School... received second team all-league honors and won theCoaches Award as a senior with the Eagles... named team MVP duringjunior campaign.
PERSONAL: T.J. Franco... chose USF to playbaseball and receive the best education available... goal for theseason is to do his best to help the team succeed... best advice hecould give to a youngster is "reach for your dreams."... he wouldbe Roger Clemens if he could be anyone for a day... uncle, RogerFranco, played baseball at Cal State Northridge... parents are Tomand Donna Franco... born June 28, 1983 in Chatsworth, CA.
GIARRATANO ON FRANCO: "T.J. has been competinghere for three years. He has given us some great innings. I lookfor him to have a breakout year that propels him to the next levelafter he graduates from USF and moves in to the professionalranks."
