Photo by: Owen Main | Cal Poly Athletics
Mustang Spotlight: Jason Franks - Baseball
2/7/2022 12:00:00 PM | Baseball
By Kalee Graff, Cal Poly Athletics
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Jason Franks is proof that it is never too late to become a Division I athlete.
Franks is a redshirt senior from Novato, Calif., who pitches on the Cal Poly baseball team. You would think that the eligibility label 'redshirt senior' means that it is his fifth year playing Division I sports, but Franks did not join the team until he was into his third year of college.
Franks grew up playing and watching baseball since he was born, but fell short of receiving an opportunity to compete at a Division I level. "It was frustrating, but when I didn't get the offers, I realized I wasn't as good as I thought I was," Franks stated.
After coming to terms with his situation, he started applying to colleges. "It came down between UCLA and Cal Poly because they both have really good civil engineering programs, but I am not much of a city guy, so I saw myself here at Cal Poly."
As any other regular student at Cal Poly, he looked into joining a club to make new friends so that the transition from high school to college was easier. It seemed obvious to join the club baseball team in the fall of his freshman year because of his passion for the sport. "Midway through the club season, I was pitching pretty well and wanted to find out if I was good enough to move on to the next level."
It is not usual for a club baseball player to walk on to the intercollegiate team.
"Jason was persistent," Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee said. "We watched just one bullpen session, but you could tell he wanted to learn, would work hard, listen to the coaches, and that it was a dream of his. You pull for players like that."
Franks' club teammates were all happy for him to move on and enjoyed that they now had a selling point to get more students to try out for the team. However, Franks was now a small fish in a big pond.
"It was awkward at first because I did not know anybody, but within a few weeks I was able to fit in because the guys did not treat me like I was just some club player. (Cal Poly pitching coach Jake Silverman) and Coach Lee helped me take a huge jump as the season progressed," Franks said.
All seemed exciting for Franks, but his first season as a Division I athlete was cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was disappointing. While we got off to a rough start, I felt like we had a good team and I was excited for conference play and the rest of the year," he said.
Franks has faced many emotions and adversity to be able to compete at a high level this year and yet he does not let that define him.
"I would say his work ethic is tremendous," Silverman said. "He makes it a norm to push your teammates harder and sets the standard for the pitching staff."
You can't teach someone work ethic, but you can always encourage it. "I'm a super competitive guy. I love making competitions out of things, whether it is in the weight room or on the field, and if that mindset is making my teammates work harder, then that is a win-win in my eyes," Franks says.
"He cares about winning, whether he is playing or not," Lee says of Franks' contributions to the team. "He cares about his teammates. He is a good example of listening and putting in high-quality effort each and every day to better himself. Even with his dreams and aspirations, he understands that he may or may not be reaching a higher level, but we both can look back and say he did everything possible to be the baseball player he wanted to be."
It's evident how much Franks appreciates the opportunity to be where he is today and how much love he has for his team.
"While it is cool that I have gotten here, I feel like I really haven't done anything yet. Coach Lee, Silvy, and all of my teammates have helped me be a better ball player and person in general. I am really excited to win this year and, whatever role I have, I am going to make the most of it. I am hoping for this to be the most memorable season yet."
Cal Poly baseball gets its season going Friday, Feb. 18, against Washington at Baggett Stadium.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – Jason Franks is proof that it is never too late to become a Division I athlete.
Franks is a redshirt senior from Novato, Calif., who pitches on the Cal Poly baseball team. You would think that the eligibility label 'redshirt senior' means that it is his fifth year playing Division I sports, but Franks did not join the team until he was into his third year of college.Franks grew up playing and watching baseball since he was born, but fell short of receiving an opportunity to compete at a Division I level. "It was frustrating, but when I didn't get the offers, I realized I wasn't as good as I thought I was," Franks stated.
After coming to terms with his situation, he started applying to colleges. "It came down between UCLA and Cal Poly because they both have really good civil engineering programs, but I am not much of a city guy, so I saw myself here at Cal Poly."
As any other regular student at Cal Poly, he looked into joining a club to make new friends so that the transition from high school to college was easier. It seemed obvious to join the club baseball team in the fall of his freshman year because of his passion for the sport. "Midway through the club season, I was pitching pretty well and wanted to find out if I was good enough to move on to the next level."
It is not usual for a club baseball player to walk on to the intercollegiate team.
"Jason was persistent," Cal Poly head coach Larry Lee said. "We watched just one bullpen session, but you could tell he wanted to learn, would work hard, listen to the coaches, and that it was a dream of his. You pull for players like that."
Franks' club teammates were all happy for him to move on and enjoyed that they now had a selling point to get more students to try out for the team. However, Franks was now a small fish in a big pond.
"It was awkward at first because I did not know anybody, but within a few weeks I was able to fit in because the guys did not treat me like I was just some club player. (Cal Poly pitching coach Jake Silverman) and Coach Lee helped me take a huge jump as the season progressed," Franks said.
All seemed exciting for Franks, but his first season as a Division I athlete was cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was disappointing. While we got off to a rough start, I felt like we had a good team and I was excited for conference play and the rest of the year," he said.Franks has faced many emotions and adversity to be able to compete at a high level this year and yet he does not let that define him.
"I would say his work ethic is tremendous," Silverman said. "He makes it a norm to push your teammates harder and sets the standard for the pitching staff."
You can't teach someone work ethic, but you can always encourage it. "I'm a super competitive guy. I love making competitions out of things, whether it is in the weight room or on the field, and if that mindset is making my teammates work harder, then that is a win-win in my eyes," Franks says.
"He cares about winning, whether he is playing or not," Lee says of Franks' contributions to the team. "He cares about his teammates. He is a good example of listening and putting in high-quality effort each and every day to better himself. Even with his dreams and aspirations, he understands that he may or may not be reaching a higher level, but we both can look back and say he did everything possible to be the baseball player he wanted to be."
It's evident how much Franks appreciates the opportunity to be where he is today and how much love he has for his team.
"While it is cool that I have gotten here, I feel like I really haven't done anything yet. Coach Lee, Silvy, and all of my teammates have helped me be a better ball player and person in general. I am really excited to win this year and, whatever role I have, I am going to make the most of it. I am hoping for this to be the most memorable season yet."
Cal Poly baseball gets its season going Friday, Feb. 18, against Washington at Baggett Stadium.
Players Mentioned
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