Francisco Signed by Chicago, Assigned to Charlotte

(Uptown Charlotte, NC) - The Chicago White Sox signed free agent right-handed pitcher Frank Francisco today and assigned the 34-year-old to the Charlotte Knights. With the addition of Francisco, the Knights are currently at 25 players on their active roster.

Francisco spent the past two seasons in the New York Mets organization. The Dominican native appeared in just eight games for the Mets last season after recovering from offseason elbow surgery. He owns a career Major League record of 20-22 with 73 saves and a 3.93 ERA in 387 games. In 2012, Francisco posted a 1-3 record with 23 saves and a 5.53 ERA in 48 games for the Mets.

He was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent in 1996. He made his Major League debut with Texas on May 14, 2004 and posted a 5-1 record with a 3.33 ERA in 45 games for the Rangers that season. In 2009, Francisco saved a career-high 25 games for the Rangers and went 2-3 with a 3.83 ERA in 51 games that season.

The Charlotte Knights host the Durham Bulls in game one of a two-game series at BB&T Ballpark tonight at 7:05 p.m. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. tonight and tickets are available by phone at 704-357-8071, online at www.charlotteknights.com, and in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office.