It’s funny. As I’ve been combing through every single one of my old posts, I came across this one from back in 2011, where I had been applauding Julio Franco’s endless love of the game when he was signing with a semi-pro team in Japan at the age of 52. I stated that I never wanted to see him ever stop playing the game of baseball back then.
Well it’s 2020 now, the world is at its knees, buckled by a global pandemic which has now been contained primarily in an America that had no clue or want to actually combat it, but out in presumably South Korea, video has surfaced of a now 61-year old Julio Franco, still taking cuts inside the batting cage. And still with his trademark wonky batting stance, great bat speed and the ball coming off his bat with a satisfying crack.
To my understanding, he’s been a hitting coach for the KBO’s Lotte Giants, and has been since 2016, which means that he is still actively getting paid to contribute to the game of baseball. God bless this guy and his passion for the game that can probably never be rivaled throughout the passage of time.
It’s about the least surprising thing in the world that even at the age of 61, Julio’s physique is still in pristine condition, that his batting stance hasn’t changed a single inch, and he’s still ready to take cuts in the cage whenever anyone wants video proof that he can still swing the lumber. The guy’s dedication to his body is almost as equal to his dedication to the game of baseball, and it fills me with glee to know that he gives no fucks if anyone in affiliated MLB ball thinks he’s worth paying, he’ll just as gladly pack his shit up and go to Mexico, Japan or Korea, to which most know this is very much not his first hurrah in the KBO.
Seeing him still hopping into the cage and taking cuts, with a goddamn scarf on, no less, brings me a lot of happiness, and I’m delighted but not the least bit surprised to see that Julio’s still got it.
The best part is that I don’t think the responses on Twitter about this are entirely wrong; the 2020 MLB season is a joke anyway, and before it gets shut down, I’d love to see some team, out of the race after just 20 games realize that they’re not contending, and then take a flyer on Julio Franco. Considering both leagues are using the DH this year, there’s no denying Julio could at least hit .240 in today’s game, which isn’t saying a tremendous amount, but tons of teams trot out glue guys that hit .186 every single day, because they’re just as important as mentors as they are players.
Whatever though, Julio Franco most certainly does still got it. Not sure why he’s picked the age of 66 to throw in the towel, but if I’m at betting man, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Julio Franco suiting up and actually playing in a professional baseball game.
