Former Phillies Star Slugger Suddenly Cut By New Team Amid Power Surge
Key takeaways
- Sports Money Former Phillies Star Slugger Suddenly Cut By New Team Amid Power Surge By Peter Chawaga,
- “The Dominican Maikel Franco was released by the Diablos Rojos after hitting .272, with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs in 39 games,” Besibolpuro reported in a translated post on X.
- Franco’s production made the sudden release a bit of a surprise, but Phillies fans will recall that he isn’t a stranger to midseason demotions.
Sports Money Former Phillies Star Slugger Suddenly Cut By New Team Amid Power Surge By Peter Chawaga,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Peter Chawaga is a writer and editor covering Major League Baseball.Follow Author Jun 12, 2026, 06:30am EDTBALTIMORE, MD - JULY 12: Maikel Franco #7 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 12, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Phillies have seen plenty of former players continue their careers in independent leagues and overseas after leaving Major League Baseball, but one former cornerstone has now hit an unexpected turning point.
Former Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco — who hit more than 20 homers in three different seasons with the franchise and once seemed like a big part of its future — was released by the Mexican League's Diablos Rojos earlier this week despite producing impressive power numbers this season, according to multiple Spanish-language reports.