Franco brings the heat on the mound in Chattanooga

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CINCINNATI – Big arms with big velocity can often attract big attention.

At Double-A Chattanooga, right-handed starter Jose Franco certainly has the power pitcher credentials – even after missing all of 2023 because of Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

"He's healthy. He pitched part of last year while coming off TJ," said Jeremy Farrell, the Reds' player development director. "His velocity is coming back. It is up to 98 mph."

Franco, 24, is 1-0 with a 0.52 ERA through five games – including four starts – this season for the Lookouts. Over his 17 1/3 innings, he has walked 10 while striking out 24. MLB Pipeline does not currently have him listed in the Cincinnati organization's top 30.

On Wednesday, Franco had one of his best starts yet.

Over five scoreless innings at Montgomery in a victory, Franco allowed one hit and one walk while striking out nine. He threw 68 pitches with 46 strikes.

The Reds signed Franco in 2018 out of Maracay, Venezuela. In 2022 at Single-A Daytona, he struck out 104 batters in only 77 innings over 20 games and seemed on an upward path. But in 2023, the elbow injury wiped out his entire year.

In 2024, Franco bounced back well. His 22 starts combined for Daytona and High-A Dayton were tied for sixth-most among Reds Minor League pitchers. He posted a 3.52 ERA over 76 2/3 innings with 26 walks and 90 strikeouts.

Franco has also used his secondary stuff to the Reds' liking.

"There is some feel to pitch as well, it's not all power," Farrell said. "He's aggressive and attacks hitters."

Elsewhere in the Reds' farm system:

Triple-A Louisville

Right-handed reliever Zach Maxwell was having a nice first month of the season – including notching a one-pitch save on April 26. He is tied for first in the International League with 13 appearances. But, April did not end well.

Maxwell, who is ranked No. 23 in the organization, did not retire a batter on Wednesday and allowed five earned runs and three hits – including a homer – with two walks for a blown save and the loss at Memphis.

Double-A Chattanooga

MiLB.com has details on No. 1 prospect Chase Burns earning his first pro win on Friday.

Burns spun five strong innings in his second Double-A start en route to his first professional win. Last year's second overall Draft pick surrendered two hits and a run before recording an out but settled down to strike out eight while retiring 14 of 17 to end his outing. Burns tossed an efficient 59 pitches (45 strikes) and lowered his ERA to 2.61 with 33 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings across five starts for High-A Dayton and Chattanooga.

High-A Dayton

Over his four April starts, left-handed pitcher Adam Serwinowski (No. 12 in the organization) had a 1.59 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, four walks and 20 strikeouts in 17 innings. On Saturday vs. Fort Wayne, Serwinowski pitched 3 2/3 innings and gave up two runs and three hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

Single-A Daytona

On Friday, in a loss to Dunedin, third baseman Carlos Sanchez reached safely four times while going 2-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and two walks. Sanchez is batting .375 with an OPS of 1.090.