Orioles' Christian Franklin: Swipes bag in big-league debut
Rotowire
Franklin went 0-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Angels.
Making his MLB debut after being acquired from the Nationals in a minor deal at the trade deadline, Franklin got the start in left field and hit seventh. The 26-year-old outfielder drew a leadoff walk in the third inning and came around to score the first run of the contest, and then swiped his first bag after a seventh-inning fielder's choice. Franklin could be headed for a short-side platoon role in Baltimore's lefty-heavy outfield after slashing .251/.377/.363 over 93 games for Triple-A Rochester with six homers and 17 steals in 21 attempts, but Tuesday's start against right-hander Grayson Rodriguez at least offers hope for a larger workload.
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Orioles' Christian Franklin: Slated for promotion
Rotowire
The Orioles recalled Franklin from Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday.
Acquired from the Nationals via trade Monday, Franklin will report directly to the major-league club. He's slashed .249/.375/.360 with six home runs, 17 stolen bases and a 65:107 BB:K over 93 games at the Triple-A level in 2026. Franklin can handle all three outfield spots and is likely to operate in a reserve role. He'll be making his big-league debut when he gets into a game.
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Orioles' Christian Franklin: Dealt to Baltimore
Rotowire
The Orioles acquired Franklin from the Nationals on Monday in exchange for right-hander Joe Glassey, Andy Kostka of TheBanner.com reports.
Franklin is on the 40-man roster and has been a league-average performer (101 wRC+) in 93 games at Triple-A as a 26-year-old. He has plus speed and good defensive chops and will hope to eventually carve out time as a reserve outfielder. Franklin was traded from the Cubs to the Nationals at last year's deadline.
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Nationals' Christian Franklin: Falls short of Opening Day roster
Rotowire
The Nationals optioned Franklin to Triple-A Rochester on Monday.
Franklin has yet to make his MLB debut, but he appeared to have a decent shot at being included on the Nationals' Opening Day roster after Washington had optioned fellow outfielders Robert Hassell and Dylan Crews to the minors in recent days. Ultimately, Franklin will wind up joining Hassell and Crews in Rochester, where all three should get the chance to play on a near-everyday basis. Franklin spent the entire 2025 season at the Triple-A level, slashing .272/.390/.427 with 12 home runs and 19 stolen bases in 117 games between the Cubs' and Nationals' top affiliates.
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Nationals' Christian Franklin: Shot at Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Franklin is still in the running for a spot on the 26-man roster with Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell both set to begin the season at Triple-A Rochester, Spencer Nusbaum of The Athletic reports.
The 26-year-old outfielder was added to the 40-man roster this offseason after being acquired from the Cubs in the Michael Soroka trade, and Franklin could make the jump to the big leagues after slashing a combined .266/.383/.418 over 117 Triple-A games last season between Iowa and Rochester with 12 homers and 19 steals. He hasn't shown much this spring at the plate, however, batting .233 (7-for-30) with zero extra-base hits and a 1:11 BB:K. Franklin is capable of playing all three outfield positions, and that versatility could earn him the final spot on the Nationals' bench.
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Nationals' Christian Franklin: Shipped to D.C.
Rotowire
The Cubs traded Franklin to the Nationals on Wednesday alongside Ronny Cruz in exchange for Michael Soroka, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Franklin has spent the entire season with the Cubs' Triple-A affiliate, slashing .257/.383/.415 with eight homers, 40 RBI, 60 runs scored and 11 steals through 86 games. The 25-year-old will likely report to Triple-A Rochester upon joining the Nationals organization and could be a candidate to join the big club once rosters expand in September.
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Cubs' Christian Franklin: Makes cameo in spring game
Rotowire
Franklin (knee) struck out in his lone plate appearance and logged three innings in right field in his lone Cactus League game to date in a March 16 loss to the Diamondbacks.
A 23-year-old outfielder who hasn't played above the Single-A level, Franklin isn't in consideration for a spot on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, but his appearance in Cactus League play at least confirms that he's healthy again after missing the entire 2022 season due to a torn patellar tendon in his left knee. Franklin will likely open the 2023 campaign at Single-A Myrtle Beach or High-A South Bend.
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Cubs' Christian Franklin: Out for season with knee injury
Rotowire
Franklin will miss the 2022 season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.
The 22-year-old outfielder hit .237/.426/.316 with one home run and four steals in 24 games across rookie ball and Low-A after getting drafted in the fourth round last year.
