Former Philadelphia Phillies slugger Maikel Franco, once viewed as a key part of the franchise’s long-term core, has experienced another unexpected twist in his journeyman career after being released by the Mexican League’s Diablos Rojos despite strong offensive production.
Franco, who broke into Major League Baseball with the Phillies in 2014 and quickly established himself as one of the organization’s most promising young hitters, was cut earlier this week even while putting up solid power numbers in Mexico. According to multiple Spanish-language reports, the veteran third baseman was batting .272 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs in just 39 games this season, ranking among the league’s top home run hitters at the time of his departure.
The decision to release him came as a surprise given his production, as he had been one of the more productive bats in the Mexican Baseball League. However, roster construction rules, including foreign player limits and team-specific strategic decisions, often play a significant role in such moves beyond on-field performance.
Franco’s career has been defined by early promise followed by frequent transitions across teams and leagues. During his time with the Phillies, he hit 20 or more home runs in three separate seasons and was once projected as a long-term middle-of-the-order cornerstone for the franchise. Over six seasons in Philadelphia, he showed flashes of significant power but struggled with consistency, particularly in later years.
His decline in performance became especially noticeable by 2019, when his struggles led to a reduced role and eventual demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. That season marked the end of his tenure with the Phillies, closing the chapter on what had once been a highly anticipated development story.
Since leaving Philadelphia, Franco has continued to extend his professional career across multiple leagues and countries, including stints with the Kansas City Royals, Baltimore Orioles, and Washington Nationals in MLB, as well as playing in Japan and Mexico. While he has remained a capable power hitter in spurts, he has yet to fully recapture the form that once made him one of baseball’s most closely watched young prospects.
Following his release from Diablos Rojos, reports indicate that Franco quickly found another opportunity, joining El Águila de Veracruz in the same league, allowing him to continue his career without interruption.
Now 33 years old, Franco remains active in professional baseball overseas. While his path has taken him far from his early days in Philadelphia, his recent power surge suggests he may still have enough offensive production left to extend his playing career and potentially attract further opportunities in international or affiliated baseball if he maintains his current form.
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