After the season, he won the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies Minor League Player of the Year.

[5] The Phillies invited him to spring training where he competed with Cody Asche for the starting third base job.

He was called up to the Phillies to be their starting third baseman on May 15, after hitting .355 with four home runs and 24 RBIs with the IronPigs.

He hit his first career major league home run on May 17 against Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randall Delgado.

On June 23, against the Yankees, he became the first player in Phillies history, since the RBI stat was invented in 1920, to have back-to-back 5-RBI games.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 18 with a small wrist fracture, but he returned to play the last three games of the year.

[12] On March 29, 2019, Franco hit a home run on Opening Day against the Atlanta Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

[14] On December 27, 2019, Franco signed a one-year $2.95 million deal with the Kansas City Royals.

[21] After his release by the Orioles, on August 31, 2021, the Atlanta Braves signed Franco to a minor league contract.

[23] On April 7, 2022, Franco's contract was selected by the Nationals, adding him to their opening day roster.

[25] On December 1, 2022, Franco signed with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball.