20230520_AS_009467

Sam Franco Season 2023

#7
PositionOF
Weight210 lbs
Height6-1
YearSenior
HometownBardonia, N.Y.
Previous SchoolManhattan
B/TR/R
HS Grad Class2018
2023 / AS A SENIOR
Academic All-Big Ten

2022 / AS A JUNIOR
Played in 26 games, making 10 starts
Despite missing all of fall practice while recovering from an offseason injury, was the season-opening starter in right field
Made all 10 of his starts in right field, including the first two Big Ten games of the season
Delivered a sac fly for the second run of Purdue’s four-run ninth inning rally in the 11-inning win vs. Longwood to complete the sweep
Singled, delivered a sac fly and was hit by a pitch in his three productive plate appearances in the game 2 win at Penn State
Singled twice, drove in a run and scored a run in the midweek home game vs. UIC
Singled and scored in game 2 of the season-opening sweep of South Dakota State

BEFORE PURDUE
Played his first three collegiate seasons at Manhattan College, serving as a three-year starting outfielder
Batted .353 with 10 home runs in 2021 to earn first-team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference honors
MAAC All-Rookie Team honoree in 2019 after batting .301 with 14 XBH and 31 RBI
Posted a 22-game hit streak and 26-game reached safely streak, including a 16-game run to begin the 2021 season
Ranked second in the MAAC in home runs in 2021, compiling an impressive 1.150 OPS in 28 games
Got off to a hot start before the shutdown in 2020, batting .321 with 6 XBH over 14 games
Enjoyed a strong showing at the 2019 MAAC Tournament, including a combined 5-for-8 showing as Manhattan beat Marist and top-seeded Canisius on the same day
MAAC Player of the Week in March 2020 after a 6-for-12 series vs. Albany in which he had multiple hits in all three games
Named MAAC Rookie of the Week in May 2019 after hitting safely in all three games of sweep of Saint Peter’s, a 6-of-10 series in which he connected for four extra-base hits, stole four bases, drove in five runs and scored eight times
Career Stats at Manhattan: .302/.393/.533, 20 2B, 15 HR, 61 RBI in 90 GP
Two-time MAAC All-Academic Team honoree

HIGH SCHOOL
Four-year varsity letterwinner for coach Mike Amendola at Clarkstown South High School, located between the Hudson River and New York’s Palisades Parkway
Two-time Viking award, coaches award and team MVP as an upperclassman
Team captain as a senior, helping lead CSHS to a section championship
Also played football as a freshman
Began his prep career at Saint Joseph Regional and played travel ball for the Rockland Royals

PERSONAL
Major: American Studies
Full name is Samuel Joseph Franco
Born in White Plains, New York
Parents are Albert and Margaret Franco

PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team:
New York Yankees
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Boston Red Sox
Favorite Athlete: Mike Trout
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Margaret Franco - Mother 
Favorite Playoff Marquee Event: World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: Yankee Stadium 
Favorite Field He’s Played at (Besides Alexander): Melching Field
Toughest Pitcher for Him to Face Among Teammates: CJ Backer
Current MLB Pitcher He’d Like to Face: Jacob deGrom 
Funniest Teammate: Jake Jarvis
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Couper Cornbulm
Purdue Staff Member He Enjoys Strongest Connection With: Casey Kohr
In His Favorite Playlist: The Beatles 
Would Love to See Him Play at Purdue: Foreigner
Favorite Multi-Media App: Netflix
Favorite Super-Hero Series: Arrow
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: The Witcher
Favorite Video Game: Call of Duty
Favorite Month: July
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Dinner
Favorite Food: Linguini with White Clam Sauce
Favorite Dessert: Candy
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Hiking
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Football
Favorite Purdue Building: Grissom Hall
Favorite Big City: Boston
Unique Travel Locale: Ireland
Country He’d Like to Visit: Ireland
Pick One for a Vacation – Beach or Mountains: Beach
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Corbin Malott as a Bag of Cheetos
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The grass
Most Memorable Game/Moment at Purdue: Going Undefeated to Start the Season
Top Sports Moment Prior to Purdue: Homer to Tie the Game against Fairfield
Enjoyed this Professor’s Class: Professor Yvonne M. Pitts – American Studies
Furry Friend: Max, Boxer
Franco_ATS_3665_2

Junior
2022

OF
6-1 / 210 lbs