Franco could fill in for Carter Kieboom (forearm) at third base for the Nationals, Chelsea Janes of The Washington Post reports. Franco is currently a non-roster invitee to spring training.
Kieboom, who was thought to be the favorite for the starting job at the hot corner, has been shut down after being diagnosed with a flexor mass strain and is likely to begin the season on IL. In 2021 with the Orioles, Franco hit 11 home runs with a .210 batting average. Franco uses a pull-heavy approach with a career Pull% of 45.5%, yet hits a ton of groundballs (46.2%). Last season, Franco's 113.9 mph maximum exit velocity ranked in the 91st percentile, but he had a 5.1 Barrel%.