BALTIMORE -- If you turned on the Orioles' 3-1 win over the Angels at Camden Yards on Tuesday night, it's possible you may not have known the player patrolling left field for Baltimore. It certainly wasn't a familiar name.
Christian Franklin made his MLB debut for the O's, only one day after getting dealt by the Nationals. The 26-year-old longtime Minor Leaguer was moved in an under-the-radar trade that took place prior to Monday's 6 p.m. ET Deadline, as Washington acquired Minor League right-hander Joe Glassey in exchange for Franklin.
Even if Orioles fans didn't know Franklin well, they made him feel right at home, as the crowd gave the Overland Park, Kan., native a standing ovation prior to his first plate appearance in the third inning.
"Super cool," Franklin said. "I think that was one of the things that caught me off-guard, honestly, was how just welcoming everybody was. It's awesome just seeing that and how well the umpires, the people on the other team, treat new guys and welcome you into the MLB community. So, it's been nothing but love. I'm extremely just grateful and in awe of the companionship and just friendship in MLB baseball."
It was a bit of a long road for Franklin to get to this point.
A fourth-round Draft pick of the Cubs out of the University of Arkansas in 2021, Franklin spent the next four years in Chicago's farm system, reaching Triple-A Iowa in '25. It took longer than expected, because the 5-foot-9 outfielder missed the entire 2022 season after tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee in Spring Training.
Then, Franklin was dealt ahead of the 2025 Trade Deadline, sent from the Cubs to the Nationals as one of the two players shipped to Washington in exchange for right-hander Michael Soroka, alongside infielder Ronny Cruz. Franklin returned to Triple-A to begin the '26 season, hitting .249 with 17 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 39 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a .735 OPS over 93 games for Rochester.
"I knew that it would happen eventually," Franklin said of reaching the big leagues. "I'm just grateful that it happened when it did."
There's the potential for Franklin to get decent playing time for the O's (55-58 entering Wednesday) down the stretch. They traded Taylor Ward to the Mariners on Monday, so Franklin has joined the mix as a right-handed-hitting option for all three outfield spots.
On Tuesday, Franklin became only the second player in Orioles history (since 1954) to record a walk, a run and a stolen base in his big league debut. The first was outfielder Luis Matos, who also had one of each in his first MLB game on June 19, 2000, vs. the A's.
"I was really impressed with Frankie, the way he navigated the at-bats. The moment wasn't too big for him. He was under control," manager Craig Albernaz said. "There are a lot of things to like about Christian, and the clubhouse was really excited for him making his debut and the impact that he made."
By Wednesday afternoon, Franklin was continuing to process all that had happened, noting things had started to calm down "a little bit more." He still had some texts to respond to, though, as his phone had blown up with messages of support from family, close friends and others following his first big league game.
"Everything’s been happening so fast," Franklin said. "A lot of excitement. A lot of texts and phone calls and messages from former teachers and people that you don’t really talk to, but you know that they’re still keeping an eye on you. So it’s just nice to have so much love from everyone."
On Wednesday night, Franklin was right back in Baltimore's lineup. This time, he started in center field and batted leadoff against Halos left-handed starter Reid Detmers.
Franklin became the first O's player to hit leadoff for the team within his first two MLB games since Xavier Avery was in the No. 1 spot for each of his first two games on May 13 and 14, 2012.
Although the Orioles are clearly giving Franklin a chance to earn substantial playing time, he isn't looking at it that way. He doesn't want to overthink an opportunity and is instead focused on trying to help the club make a push for the postseason amid a crowded American League Wild Card race.
"I'm not pressing to do it any certain way or fashion. It's just whatever the game presents," Franklin said. "If it's a pinch-hit opportunity, if it's getting a bunt down, if it's defensive replacement, if it's starting in the outfield, it doesn't matter to me. I'm just happy to get an opportunity to go out there, and I'm going to give them 100 percent any time I do get an opportunity."