Rays' Nick Franklin took on a very normal second job this winter
This is the type of story you might expect to see in the 1920s. Back then, before salaries exploded, baseball players couldn’t make a living solely playing the game. Many players would take the mound and throw 300 innings in the summer and then work in the local factory back home in the winter.
Times have changed. Player salaries have grown exponentially, and there’s no need for players to take on a second job in order to make ends meet.
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Don’t tell that to Tampa Bay Rays infielder Nick Franklin, though. The 25-year-old decided to make a little extra cash this winter by taking on a second job as a driver for Uber.
#Rays INF/OF Nick Franklin said he spent a couple days this offseason as an @Uber driver, making 9-10 trips
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 15, 2017
We admire his hustle, even though it seems silly. The major-league minimum salary is just over $500,000, so it’s not like Franklin needs the money. Maybe he just likes interacting with people, or needs a break from the everyday grind of the game?
Whatever the case, Franklin seems to take pride in his second job. He has not only been doing it for years, but he’s keenly aware of his excellent driver rating.
#Rays Franklin has driven for @Uber in past offseasons, said he was limited this year timewise but still has 4.8 rating
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 15, 2017
That’s pretty good. With a driver rating that high, you have to assume Franklin is offering his passengers water and snacks in the back seat.
While it’s pretty cool to know an MLB player might be driving you around, we’re guessing Franklin doesn’t get noticed all that often. Kris Bryant and David Ortiz have participated in undercover driving stunts for Lyft, and few passengers noticed they were being driven around by an MLB superstar. Franklin isn’t on that level just yet, so he’s probably able to do his job without being recognized.
Given all that, there’s no reason for Franklin to give up his second job any time soon. He doesn’t get bothered, makes extra cash and gets to interact with people. That doesn’t seem like a bad gig, especially compared to working in a canning factory.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at christophercwik@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
