PHOENIX -- Maikel Franco is back in Triple-A.

The third baseman reported to Lehigh Valley on Wednesday, three days after the Phillies optioned him to make room for Brad Miller, whom they activated from the 10-day injured list. It was a surprising move. Franco joined the Phillies for good in 2015 as a top prospect, but after struggling the past few seasons, his future in Philly is tenuous, at best.

“I’m not going to say that I’m going to feel happy, but at the end of the day, I understand the situation. I understand what happened,” Franco told reporters in Allentown, Pa., according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “I’m just trying to forget all that stuff, get in here, work hard here, and try to get better every single day and try to do everything I can to be the best.”

Franco batted .231 with 15 home runs, 47 RBIs and a .702 OPS in 368 plate appearances with the Phillies this season. His -0.3 WAR ranked last among 24 qualified third basemen, according to FanGraphs. But it isn’t just this season that Franco struggled. From 2016-19, he ranked 37th out of 41 qualified third basemen in WAR (2.2). He was 40th in on-base percentage (.299), 30th in slugging percentage (.427) and 39th in wRC+ (86) in that span.

The Phillies are moving forward with Scott Kingery at third base. Franco could be recalled once rosters expand in September, or if there is a need because of an injury.

“It happens,” Franco said. “At the end of the day, I never felt like I was going to be [in the Minors]. But now I’m here. So I have to go out there every single day, play and do my job for my team.”

The clutch gene

The Phillies have struggled recently with runners in scoring position, batting .194 (12-for-62) with a .522 OPS in their previous five games. Since they were 33-22 on May 29, they have batted .249 with a .682 OPS in those situations. Their .741 OPS with runners in scoring position since the beginning of the season is 13th in the National League.

Is it the collective approach of the group?

“I would assume each guy is probably similar,” Rhys Hoskins said. “You’re trying to simplify and trying to get something in the middle of the plate. Sometimes that doesn’t happen. But me, personally, I’m missing pitches that I should be putting in play in those situations. It’s frustrating.”

Manager Gabe Kapler said they are trying to remind hitters that the pressure in those situations is on the pitchers.