Spanish
Santo Domingo. The Latin Baseball Hall of Fame announced the induction of Dominican Julio César Franco, who officially joins the Class of 2025 as one of the new immortals of Latin American baseball, thus recognizing his extraordinary career, his example of longevity and his profound impact on and off the field.
You may be interested in:Wheeler dominates with 10 strikeouts and Castellanos hits HR in Phillies shutout over Padres
With over three decades as a professional, Franco represents a story of perseverance, talent, and discipline that marked generations. In Major League Baseball (MLB), he accumulated 2,586 hits, 173 home runs, and a lifetime batting average of .298, also being the American League batting champion in 1991 with an impressive .341 average. He was selected to three All-Star Games and received five Silver Bats, establishing himself as one of the most consistent hitters of his time. Franco in MLB wore the jerseys of the Philadelphia Phillies (1982); Cleveland Indians (1983–1988); Texas Rangers (1989–1993); Chicago White Sox (1994); Cleveland Indians (1996–1997); Milwaukee Brewers (1997); Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999); Atlanta Braves (2001–2005); New York Mets (2006–2007) and Atlanta Braves (2007). But his legacy is not limited to the United States. Franco also left his mark on the professional leagues of Japan, Korea, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic, standing out for his versatility and his unwavering love for the game. At 49 years old, he was still competing at an elite level, defying the passage of time like few athletes have achieved. Outside the diamond, Julio César Franco has been a benchmark of professionalism, humility, and quiet leadership, qualities that made him an admired figure by teammates, fans, and future generations of baseball players. This announcement adds to the already confirmed induction of the also Dominican Miguel Tejada, who was the first announced for the Class of 2025. 2002 MVP champion, six-time All-Star and recognized for his contagious energy, Tejada will also be immortalized this year, making this one of the most representative generations of Quisqueyan talent. The induction ceremony is scheduled for the end of this year, it is expected that in the coming weeks more names will be announced to complete this historic class. For now, Latin baseball celebrates in a big way the beginning of an induction that promises to be unforgettable.
