Considering Carter Kieboom was expected to start at third this season, before he went on the IL with a flexor mass strain in his right arm, the minor league deal the Nationals signed Maikel Franco to last winter seemed like insurance in case the 24-year-old, 2016 1st Round pick struggled once again.
With Kieboom injured, Franco took the Opening Day job at third base, and though he’s had his struggles in the majors in his nine-year career, the 29-year-old infielder has shown signs of life at the plate, going 22 for 78 (.282/.305/.449) with seven doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs, three walks, and nine runs scored in his last 20 games, with hits in 12 of the 20 in that stretch, after a 2 for 5 night in which he hit a homer and collected three RBIs in Saturday’s 13-6 win over the Houston Astros.