Gwinnett's Jeff Francoeur Makes Braves Roster

LILBURN, GA -- On opening day, Jeff Francoeur will be an Atlanta Brave once again.

The one-time Braves phenom, Gwinnett County native and Parkview High alum learned Tuesday that the Braves had purchased his Major League contract, meaning he'll be part of the club's 25-man opening-day roster.

Once one of the Leagues' most promising young stars, Francoeur is likely to be a backup outfielder and pinch hitter for the squad.

In February, Francoeur signed a minor-league contract with his hometown team.

Francoeur was drafted in the first round by the Braves in 2002 and made his debut in the big leagues in 2005, homering in his Major League debut. He played with the Braves through 2009.

His hot start subjected him to a huge amount of hype. A month into his Major League career, he was dubbed “The Natural” on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.

He hit 14 homers in 70 games his rookie year and followed that campaign up with a 29-home run season in 2006. He won a Gold Glove in 2007, batting .293.

But, from there, he slumped. He was traded to the Mets in 2009 and, since then, has bounced to the Rangers, Royals, Giants, Padres and Phillies.

Last season, he batted a solid .258 with 13 home runs for the Phils.

Francoeur's contract was purchased minutes before the noon deadline on Tuesday.

A report from MLB.com notes that the Braves have not announced how they will clear a roster spot for Francoeur. They could look to trade outfielder Michael Bourne, or cut Emilio Bonifacio, whom they signed in December, eating $1.25 million in the process, the report notes.