4-28-09 from: - http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=2462 - J.J. Franco was born privileged, the son of former New York Mets closer John Franco.
He spent his formative years in big-league ballparks, playing video games with Cliff Floyd, shagging fly balls in the spacious Shea Stadium outfield, rubbing elbows with such stars as Mike Piazza and Al Leiter. He cried when the Mets traded outfielder Jay Payton. Bobby Valentine used to joke that J.J. would be his center fielder one day.
“That’s where I was every single day,” he said.
It would be understandable if he carried a chip on his shoulder, if he had a “hey, look at me,” expression written across his face, if he was selfish or conceited. Instead, the Poly Prep junior leadoff hitter/shortstop/ace pitcher relentlessly works for what he has and is looked up to as a leader, on and off the field.
“His dad played in the majors and that’s it – he’s a normal kid,” Poly Prep baseball coach Matt Roventini says.
He races back and forth to his position. He is always first when the Blue Devils run team sprints. A natural shortstop, he happily played second base his first two years before moving back to his usual position this spring.
“Everything he gets, he’s earned,” says Felix Torres, Franco’s one-time Little League coach and the father of his Poly teammate, Frank Torres.
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