Wander Franco
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 26 2025Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a suspended two-year prison sentence Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco will not have to spend any time behind bars as long as he meets the conditions set by the judge, which primarily require him not to approach minors with sexual intentions. Passan notes that because Franco was found guilty, it would be difficult for him to obtain a work visa in the United States and resume his playing career with the Rays or any other team in Major League Baseball. So long as Franco remains on the Rays' restricted list, Tampa Bay won't be required to pay out any salaries from the 11-year, $182 million contract he signed in November 2021. MLB's own investigation into Franco remains active, and he could be subject to further discipline under the league's domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
Jun 23 2025A verdict in Franco's trial in the Dominican Republic is expected to be announced Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, as well as illegal possession of a gun. He remains on Major League Baseball's restricted list as MLB performs a concurrent investigation of the 24-year-old.
Jun 9 2025Franco -- who is currently on trial in the Dominican Republic on charges including sexual abuse of a minor -- was charged Sunday with illegal possession of a gun, Sarah Jean Maher of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The latest charge stems from a Nov. 10 altercation during which police found a gun in Franco's vehicle. A concurrent investigation of Franco is being performed by Major League Baseball under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The 24-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and hasn't seen the field since August of 2023.
Dec 12 2024Franco's (personal) trial has been postponed from Dec. 12 to June 2, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled that several key witnesses were not located in time to proceed on the originally schedule date. Franco -- who is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking -- is on MLB administrative leave.
Nov 12 2024Franco (personal) is facing charges of illegal use and possession of a firearm related to his arrest in an altercation in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is expected to be granted provisional release Tuesday, although terms of his bail have not yet been defined. The 23-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and is due to stand trial on Dec. 12 in the Dominican Republic involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. A concurrent investigation of Franco is being performed by MLB under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
Nov 11 2024Franco (personal) was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday following an altercation Sunday during which guns were drawn, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is being held for questioning and it's not yet clear whether he faces charges as a result of the incident. The 23-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and is due to stand trial on Dec. 12 in the Dominican Republic involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. If convicted, Franco faces up to 20 years in prison. MLB is also performing a concurrent investigation of Franco under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
Jul 10 2024The Rays will place Franco (personal) on the restricted list Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco had previously spent the entirety of the season on administrative leave, but MLB granted the Rays' request to move the 23-year-old to the restricted list after he had charges formally filed against him by prosecutors in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. According to Marc Topkin and Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times, Franco faces charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor as well as human trafficking, the latter of which carries a 15-to-20-year prison term if convicted. Major League Baseball isn't expected to issue any disciplinary action for Franco until the legal process is completed, but he won't accrue MLB service time or receive a salary while he's on the restricted list.
Jul 9 2024Franco was formally charged Tuesday in the Dominican Republic with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco's administrative leave stay is due to end Sunday, but his term will likely be extended indefinitely while the Dominican Republic's legal process plays out. If found guilty, he could spend up to five years in prison.
May 30 2024Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have made a joint agreement to extend Franco's stay on administrative leave through July 14, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: An agreement between the parties was originally reached prior to Opening Day, but the original term was set to end June 1. Authorities have until July 5 to make any charging decisions against Franco, which could provide some additional context for his availability for this season and beyond.
Mar 28 2024Franco was placed on administrative leave Thursday through an agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The transaction removes Franco from the Rays' 40-man roster and is effective through June 1. The stay could end sooner than that if there are any developments in Franco's investigation or could be extended if there are none. Because he is on administrative leave and not the restricted list, Franco will be paid his $2 million salary.
Mar 21 2024Franco is expected to be moved off the 40-man roster by Opening Day and placed on either the restricted list or administrative leave, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was released from a Dominican Republic jail in January after a judge decided Franco would face a lesser charge stemming from his alleged relationship with an underage girl. He is still facing the possibility of prison time. The Rays don't seem to have any intention of bringing him back to the team even if he avoids time behind bars.
Jan 9 2024Franco is facing a lesser charge after a judge in the Dominican Republic analyzed evidence that he had an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for her consent, the Associated Press reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco had been accused of commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering but now is accused of sexual and psychological abuse. While the new charge is considered a lesser offense, Franco would still face between two and five years in prison if found guilty. The 22-year-old has been conditionally released from jail but is required to return once a month to appear before authorities. Franco is not expected to be allowed back into the United States anytime soon, and his future in Major League Baseball is very much in question.
Jan 4 2024Franco has been charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was initially arrested Monday for failing to appear at a summons last week, and now these new charges have officially been revealed. According to Recio, Franco will be under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge for the first time Friday.
Jan 1 2024Franco was arrested by authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com report. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The arrest is due to the fact that Franco failed to appear at a summons last week. Franco appeared voluntarily Monday with his new lawyers as he was questioned regarding allegedly having had a relationship with a minor. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge within 48 hours of his arrest and in the meantime will remain in the custody of the Puerto Plata Prosecutor's Office. In addition to being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic, Franco is also being investigated by Major League Baseball.
Dec 29 2023Franco failed to respond to a summons filed in the Dominican Republic to address allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco had been summoned by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents for questioning Thursday morning. At least two people have filed legal action against the Rays shortstop and, according to Recio, Franco is also under investigation for an alleged third relationship with a minor. Additionally, the Associated Press has reported that he recently fired his legal team. To this point, no criminal charges have been filed against Franco. Even if that remains the case, he is likely facing a suspension from Major League Baseball.
Dec 28 2023Franco was summoned by police in the Dominican Republic for questioning Thursday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes report. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The summons came after authorities unsuccessfully searched for the 22-year-old at his two homes in the D.R. on Tuesday. Franco is under investigation by police and Major League Baseball for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. He was on the restricted list from Aug. 12 through the end of the regular season before being reinstated last month in a procedural move. Whether Franco is ultimately charged criminally remains up in the air, but he is likely facing a lengthy suspension from MLB regardless.
Nov 2 2023Franco was activated Thursday from administrative leave, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is merely a procedural move, as administrative leave is only applicable during the season and the World Series came to an end Wednesday. Franco is still under investigation from both authorities in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball following allegations that emerged this summer involving inappropriate relationships with minors. Topkin notes that Franco's "status to return to playing remains unchanged and uncertain."
Aug 22 2023Franco was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by Major League Baseball under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had been on the restricted list in a mutual agreement between the Rays and the player, but Franco has now been shifted to administrative leave as the league and authorities in the Dominican Republic continue their investigations into his alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. Franco doesn't have a set length for his stay on administrative leave, as MLB can typically extend it on a week-by-week basis until the investigations have been completed. Franco will continue to be paid and accrue service time while on leave.
Aug 21 2023Franco is expected to remain on the restricted list or shifted to administrative leave as Major League Baseball continues its investigation into the player's alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco's placement on the restricted list last week was a transaction made by the Rays, whereas a switch to administrative leave would be done by the league as part of the MLB/MLBPA's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. The player's return doesn't appear imminent in either scenario, as the investigation into Franco both by MLB and by authorities in his native Dominican Republic remains ongoing, with no endpoint in sight.
Aug 14 2023The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list Monday, and the shortstop will take a leave from the team for the duration of their six-game road trip this week. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a statement, the Rays noted that the decision to place Franco on the restricted list was mutually agreed upon by the club and the player as Major League Baseball opens up an investigation regarding social media posts made about the 22-year-old over the weekend. Franco's leave could extend beyond this week, pending the results of the investigation.
Aug 13 2023Franco won't travel with the Rays on the team plane ahead of their upcoming series in San Francisco, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays and MLB are investigating social media posts made about Franco over the weekend, and it appears as though the shortstop will at least be unavailable to begin the team's road trip to the West Coast. Manager Kevin Cash called Franco's absence from Sunday's lineup an off day, and the team declined to comment on Franco not traveling on the team plane. It's possible Franco is placed on the restricted list or administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
Aug 11 2023Franco walloped a walk-off home run in Friday's 9-8 victory over the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays' bullpen blew a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Franco saved their bacon by depositing Nick Sandlin's third pitch of the bottom of the frame over the right-field wall. It was the first walk-off home run of Franco's young career. He also added two singles, a walk and his 30th stolen base of the season in this one. Now with 17 long balls on the year, Franco has an excellent shot at a 20-30 campaign.
Aug 9 2023Franco went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco has been on a tear of late, going 10-for-16 (.625) over his previous four games while belting five homers in his last 10 contests. Overall, Franco's slashing .277/.342/.466 with 16 homers, 62 runs scored, 54 RBI and 29 stolen bases across 477 plate appearances in his age-22 campaign.
Aug 6 2023Franco went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco swatted his 15th home run of the season to put the Rays up 10-6 in the eighth inning. The 22-year-old shortstop has been on an absolute tear at the plate over the last 10 days, posting a .358 batting average while hitting four home runs, driving in five and scoring 9 runs in 41 plate appearances. Franco's recent hot bat has propelled the Rays to three straight series wins, as he's looked to have potentially turned a corner entering the final stretch of the season.
Aug 3 2023Franco went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The shortstop took Gerrit Cole deep in the first inning, but it was all the offense the Rays could muster. Franco has now homered three times in the last five games while hitting safely in six straight, batting .348 (8-for-23) over that stretch with a steal, four RBI, seven runs and a 4:2 BB:K as he shows signs of recapturing his blistering early-season form.
Aug 1 2023Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was cold for much of July, hitting just .202 with a .669 OPS across 89 at-bats. However, he did manage to end the month on a four-game hitting streak, during which he's hit two home runs and scored five runs. Franco has shown glimpses of breaking out this season, and his strong plate discipline and willingness to steal bases should give him a safe floor of production at a minimum moving forward.
Jul 29 2023Franco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco went deep in the eighth inning to record his 12th homer of the season and the first in his last 15 starts. He entered Saturday's game hitting only .145 in that span to go along with three RBI and four runs scored. Franco also snapped a 16-game stretch without a stolen base, and his 29 swiped bags on the season have been his primary source of fantasy value.
Jul 19 2023Franco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tampa Bay will withhold two of its top hitters from the lineup for the series finale in Franco and Randy Arozarena, with both players seemingly just receiving maintenance for the day game after a night game. Taylor Walls will fill in at shortstop and bat eighth in place of Franco, who went 0-for-7 with a walk between the first two games of the series.
Jul 8 2023Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco extended his hitting streak to four games when he popped his 11th home run of the season in the first inning. It was his second long ball in that span, signifying a potential step forward in his production after he went deep only twice across 23 games in June. Though Franco's power production has come sporadically, he's still managed an impressive .185 ISO across 370 plate appearances on the season.
Jul 4 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and one steal in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco clubbed his 10th home run of the season Tuesday, ending Aaron Nola's night with a solo shot in the eighth inning. The young shortstop also reached on a single in the sixth off Nola and swiped second base for his 27th steal in 2023. Franco has been on a tear in his last five games, batting 7-for-21 (.333) with seven RBI, four runs scored, two stolen bases and two triples. He'll look to continue the hot streak Wednesday in a tentative matchup against right-hander Taijuan Walker.
Jun 26 2023Franco went 0-for-3 with a walk and a steal in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was still able to provide a positive fantasy performance despite going hitless on the afternoon. He stole his 25th bag of the year, and his activity on the bases has been an added element to his game after he combined for just 10 steals over his first two major league seasons. Franco is putting together a productive year at the plate thus far, but has struggled over the course of June, slashing just .229/.295/.357 with two homers, seven RBI, five runs and a 7:11 BB:K since June 5.
Jun 24 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Saturday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco returned to the lineup after sitting out the team's prior two games for disciplinary purposes. He quickly made amends by going deep in his first at-bat to tally his ninth homer of the season and only second long ball since May 10. Despite that downturn in production, Franco has maintained an impressive .352 wOBA and 131 wRC+ across 322 plate appearances on the campaign.
Jun 22 2023Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco will remain out of the lineup through at least Friday's game versus the Royals due to the way the infielder has handled frustrating situations this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Topkin's report, Cash said Franco "is a good kid," and the team hopes to work with him to improve with him in becoming a better teammate and in how he deals with the challenges that come with being a big leaguer. Franco is hitting .250 with one home run and four steals in 17 games this month, and he has uncharacteristically struck out at a 40 percent clip over the last three games. Taylor Walls is starting at shortstop in Thursday's series opener.
Jun 17 2023Franco went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is just 2-for-4 on stolen base attempts over his last four games, but the mixed results haven't deterred him from running. The shortstop is now 24-for-31 on the basepaths this season, ranking third in the majors in steals. He's been held hitless five times in 14 games in June, batting .281 for the month and .295 with an .822 OPS over 69 contests overall. He's added eight home runs, 32 RBI and 41 runs scored.
Jun 12 2023Franco isn't in the Rays' lineup for Monday's game against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco has slashed .250/.300/.429 across the past week and will get a day off Monday to regroup. Taylor Walls will shift over to shortstop to fill in for Franco, allowing Vidal Brujan and Isaac Paredes to cover second and third base, respectively.
Jun 11 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco went over a month between homers, with his last coming May 9 in Baltimore. The shortstop hit a solid .276 over that 27-game span, but he slugged just .362 in the same stretch. His long ball Sunday was his career-best eighth of the campaign, coming in just his 63rd contest. He's added 32 RBI, 41 runs scored, 22 stolen bases, 19 doubles and two triples while slashing .299/.360/.486.
Jun 9 2023Franco went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Thursday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco went hitless for the first time in his last 11 starts, though his performance was still notable because he swiped his 22nd bag of the season. It was his first stolen base attempt since returning from a minor hamstring injury June 5. In addition to his speed, Franco has also matched his highest homer total in a single season with seven across only 265 plate appearances.
Jun 6 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with a double in Monday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco picked up where he left off Monday after missing Tampa Bay's previous two games with a hamstring injury. The 22-year-old shortstop has hits in nine straight contests, going 17-for-35 (.486) with a 1.176 OPS in that span. Franco has emerged as an elite fantasy option this season -- he's slashing .308/.372/.498 with seven homers, 21 stolen bases, 29 RBI and 37 runs scored through 253 plate appearances.
Jun 5 2023Franco (hamstring) will start at shortstop and bat second in Monday's game in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays lost Brandon Lowe (back) to the injured list Monday, but they'll get the other half of their usual double-play combination back in action with Franco returning to action after a two-game absence. Though Vidal Brujan is getting the nod at second base Monday, the Rays will likely rely mostly on Taylor Walls or Isaac Paredes to work in tandem with Franco in the middle infield while Lowe is sidelined.
Jun 4 2023Franco (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 22-year-old sat out Game 2 of Saturday's twin bill due to the hamstring injury he picked up during the matinee, and it's not a major surprise the Rays will give him at least one full day to rest up. According to Topkin, Franco is receiving treatment and could be back in the lineup for Monday's series finale in Boston. Taylor Walls will make another start at shortstop Sunday for Tampa Bay.
Jun 3 2023Franco will be absent from the lineup for the evening portion of Saturday's doubleheader against the Red Sox due to a hamstring injury, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco returned from a minor shoulder injury in the afternoon contest and looked healthy, grabbing three hits and scoring a pair of runs while stealing his 21st base of the year. He wasn't removed from the game at any point but evidently picked up at least another minor knock. It remains to be see whether or not this particular issue will require a trip to the injured list. Taylor Walls will move to shortstop for Saturday's nightcap, with Isaac Paredes entering the lineup at third base.
Jun 2 2023Franco (shoulder) is back in the lineup Friday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco missed Wednesday's series finale against the Cubs due to left shoulder discomfort, but the issue has proven to be minor. He will start at shortstop and bat second Friday versus the Red Sox and right-hander Garrett Whitlock. The 22-year-old rising star boasts a .298/.362/.482 slash line with seven home runs and 20 stolen bases through 55 games this season.
May 31 2023Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco is being held out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs due to the infielder's left shoulder being "a little dinged up," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cash said he still expects Franco will be available off the bench Wednesday, so the 22-year-old's absence from the lineup could be more maintenance-related than out of any legitimate concern about the shoulder issue, which he picked up while sliding into home plate in Tuesday's 2-1 loss. The Rays are off Thursday before returning to action in Boston on Friday, when Franco will most likely be back in the lineup at shortstop.
May 29 2023Franco went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Monday in a loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco notched Tampa Bay's only hit of the game, breaking up Marcus Stroman's no-hitter in the seventh inning with a leadoff single. The speedy shortstop proceeded to steal second base but didn't advance any further. Franco extended his hitting streak to six games with the base knock, and he's swiped five bags over that span. He ranks third in the majors with 19 thefts on the campaign.
May 18 2023Franco went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and thefts in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco didn't get a hit in the contest, but he took advantage of a pair of walks by swiping second base after each one. The shortstop has racked up seven thefts over his past 10 games, and he hasn't been caught attempting to steal over that span. On the season, Franco's 14 stolen bases are tied for third-most in the majors.
May 18 2023Franco is absent from the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's Franco's first day off this month after he played each of the last 15 contests. Taylor Walls will be at shortstop.
May 12 2023Franco went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts Friday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco exited Thursday's game against the Yankees with a neck injury but was able to immediately return to the lineup. He had a subpar performance Friday and struck out multiple times in a game for the sixth time this season. That's hardly a reason for concern, however, as he has a .307/.36/.536 line across 168 plate appearances on the campaign.
May 11 2023Franco (neck) hopes to play Friday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco exited the game in the fifth inning but spoke to reporters after the game and said he was feeling better. Both he and manager Kevin Cash said it's possible that he will be able to return to the lineup Friday.
May 9 2023Franco went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco opened the scoring Tuesday with a solo homer in the first inning. The longball was Franco's seventh of the year, matching his career high in just 137 at-bats this season. The 22-year-old shortstop would later swipe his ninth base, setting another new personal best. Franco has been on a tear, going 13-for-36 with three home runs and four stolen bases in his last nine games. He's now slashing .310/.365/.556 with 22 RBI and 23 runs scored through 156 plate appearances this year.
May 8 2023Franco went 1-for-5 with a stolen base Sunday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco had a relatively quiet game but now has at least one hit in six of his last seven games. In that span, he has hit .321 with six RBI and seven runs scored to go along with three stolen bases. Franco has had an excellent start to the season, maintaining a .299 batting average with an .898 OPS across 147 plate appearances. He's also swiped eight bases, matching his total from the entire 2022 campaign.
May 2 2023Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base Tuesday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco grounded into a pair of double plays but rebounded with an RBI single in the fifth inning. He proceeded to swipe second base on a double steal, during which Jose Siri also stole home. Franco now has seven stolen bases across 121 plate appearances on the season after swiping only 10 bases across 652 career plate appearances entering the campaign.
Apr 30 2023Franco is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco gets a day of rest after appearing in nine straight games while contributing a homer and stolen base in Saturday's victory over the White Sox. Taylor Walls will get the start at shortstop for the series finale against Chicago and will hit sixth.
Apr 29 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with one homer, three RBI, two runs scored and one steal in Saturday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays were being no hit entering the seventh inning. Franco ended that with a solo shot off Lance Lynn. He singled later in the inning and had two hits, three RBI and two runs all in the Rays' 10-run seventh inning. Franco's OPS is at .909 this season and he is closing in on his career high of eight steals with six this year.
Apr 6 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Wednesday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco took Patrick Corbin yard in the third inning to record his second home run of the season. He's gotten off to a hot start in the new campaign, and Wednesday's effort marked his fourth multi-hit performance in six starts. In particular, Franco's power early on has been encouraging as he has five extra-base knocks across 27 plate appearances.
Apr 1 2023Franco went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, three RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was a key part of the Rays' 12-run offensive outburst Saturday, with his first contribution coming on an RBI single in the third frame. He then knocked a double in the seventh frame which drove in two more runs. Franco has gotten off to a hot start this season, collecting five hits in his first eight at-bats, including three going for extra bases.
Mar 30 2023Franco went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco added an insurance run in the eighth inning with a solo home run off Mason Englert to put the Rays up 4-0. While he was otherwise quiet, the performance was reassuring after he battled a quadriceps issue late in spring training. After managing only 344 plate appearances in 2022, Franco will look to put together a full season of productivity this season.
Mar 26 2023Manager Kevin Cash said Franco's MRI results on his sore right quadriceps were "favorable," and the shortstop could be ready to play in the season opener against Detroit on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 22-year-old won't play in Tampa Bay's final exhibition game Monday and will prioritize rest and treatment over the next few days. Even if Franco isn't cleared for Opening Day on Thursday, at this point it doesn't appear he'll require a trip to the injured list to begin the campaign.
Mar 25 2023Franco was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against Boston due to right quadriceps soreness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was listed as the designated hitter but didn't come up to the plate for his first at-bat. The Rays are calling his removal precautionary, so Opening Day still seems to be in play, but the young shortstop's history of quad problems make the issue more worrisome than it might otherwise be. A strained right quadriceps cost him nearly a month in 2022, and he had a pair of brief absences earlier that year due to minor issues with the same muscle.
Mar 15 2023Franco entered spring training fully healthy, Joe Trezza of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was limited to only 344 plate appearances in 2022 due to a combination of quadriceps and wrist injuries. Frustrated by being sidelined, Franco focused his offseason work on durability with the goal being to remain in the lineup more regularly. While he had a disappointing 2022 campaign, Franco still managed six home runs, eight stolen bases and a .745 OPS in the partial year.
Oct 5 2022Franco isn't starting Wednesday against Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco has gone 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a triple, a walk and a strikeout over the last two games, and he'll be on the bench for Wednesday's regular-season finale. Taylor Walls is taking over at shortstop and batting eighth.
Oct 3 2022Franco went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and triple in Monday's loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco launched a leadoff homer off Rich Hill to open Monday's contest, giving the Rays an early 1-0 lead. He later added a single and a triple in the contest. The homer was his sixth of the season and first since July 2. Since returning from the 10-day injured list Sept. 9, Franco has produced a .322 average with a homer, a triple, eight doubles, 10 RBI, 12 runs and three stolen bases over 86 at-bats in 24 games.
Oct 2 2022Franco is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco started the past 12 contests and will head to the bench after he posted an .866 OPS with six doubles, four RBI and seven runs during that span. Taylor Walls will shift to shortstop while Miles Mastrobuoni stars at the keystone Sunday.
Sep 30 2022Franco went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and two steals in Thursday's 2-1 loss against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco recorded a double off righty starter Cal Quantrill in addition to nabbing second base twice. The shortstop has recorded three steals in his last three games and has recorded one hit or more in 14 of his last 15 contests. Furthermore, the 21-year-old has tallied six doubles over his last nine games.
Sep 27 2022Franco went 1-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base in a 6-5 extra-innings win Tuesday in Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco doubled and scored in the third and walked, stole a base and scored in the 11th. He's 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts this season and Tuesday's steal was his first since July 5. Since returning from a wrist injury Sept. 9, he has a .324/.365/.426 slash line with only five strikeouts in 74 plate appearances.
Sep 26 2022Rays manager Kevin Cash said that the jammed left hand that caused Franco's early exit in Sunday's 7-1 loss to the Blue Jays isn't anything worrisome and isn't expected to keep the 21-year-old from playing Tuesday in Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "He just got jammed a little bit," Cash said of Franco. "He's fine. He would have hit had the game been a little closer." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco's departure came in the bottom of the eighth inning, when he was lifted from a pinch hitter after initially jamming his hand in his fifth-inning plate appearance. Cash noted that the Rays' six-run deficit was the main reason Franco was removed from the contest, and the infielder was fortunate not to aggravate the right wrist he had surgically repaired earlier this season. Before exiting, Franco went 1-for-3 with a single to extend his hitting streak to a career-long 12 games.
Sep 25 2022Franco was removed from Sunday's loss to the Blue Jays with a jammed left hand, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was being examined by the training staff and was flexing his left hand in the dugout prior to being lifted for a pinch hitter during the eighth inning. Manager Kevin Cash indicated the young shortstop was removed as a precautionary measure since the Rays were already trailing 6-1. Tampa Bay has a scheduled day off Monday, so Franco will have an extra day to recover ahead of Tuesday's series opener in Cleveland.
Sep 23 2022Franco went 2-for-5 with one double, three RBI and one run scored in Thursday's 10-5 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco knocked in Jonathan Aranda with a two-out single in the second inning before coming around to score on a single from Randy Arozarena in the following at-bat. In his next at-bat, the star shortstop ripped a double to deep center field that drove in Aranda for a second time, along with Taylor Walls. Franco is now riding a nine-game hitting streak, hitting .333 over that stretch with three doubles, five RBI and three runs scored.
Sep 20 2022Franco went 2-for-2 with a double and two walks Tuesday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco had two of the Rays' three hits on the night, highlighted by a double in the sixth inning. He's in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak, though he's produced only two RBI and one run scored in that span. Franco has had a disappointing season, as he has just a .125 ISO with five home runs and five stolen bases across 295 plate appearances.
Sep 18 2022Franco is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rangers, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is hitting .278 with two doubles, two strikeouts and one walk in 10 games since getting activated earlier this month. Taylor Walls is starting at shortstop and hitting ninth.
Sep 12 2022Franco is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Kevin Cash confirmed that Franco is on the bench for the series opener for maintenance purposes after the star infielder returned to action over the weekend following a two-month stint on the injured list. Taylor Walls will step in at shortstop for Franco, who went 4-for-11 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs in his first three games back in the Tampa Bay lineup.
Sep 10 2022Franco went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 4-2 victory over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All of Tampa's four runs were scored via doubles, with Franco having a hand in al four. He scored on both of Randy Arozarena's doubles -- one in the first inning and one in the fourth. The shortstop hit his own double in the fourth that scored Yandy Diaz and Ji-Man Choi. This was Franco's first game since July 9 and he picked up right where he left off. After the three-hit game, the young star is slashing .267/.313/.409.
Sep 9 2022Franco (wrist) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays were hopeful that Franco would be cleared to return to the lineup Friday against the Yankees, and he was ultimately activated after testing his injury prior to the game. The 21-year-old appeared in three rehab games over the last week and went 6-for-11 with a double, two runs, an RBI and a walk. Franco will reclaim his role as Tampa Bay's everyday shortstop now that he's fully healthy.
Sep 8 2022Franco (wrist) could be activated as soon as Friday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: According to president of baseball operations Erik Neander, Wednesday's rehab game was a big step for Franco after his progress seemed to stall earlier in the week. The young shortstop is 6-for-11 with a double, a walk and zero strikeouts in three rehab games with Durham.
Sep 6 2022Franco (wrist) got treatment and took 40-50 swings during Tuesday's off-day at Triple-A Durham and is expected to play in Wednesday's game, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is good news after he tweaked his wrist in Monday's rehab game and exited earlier than previously planned. Franco will likely need at least a couple more rehab games before rejoining the big-league club.
Sep 5 2022Franco (wrist) felt something in his second at-bat Monday in a rehab game for Triple-A Durham, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. No X-rays are needed and the team doesn't believe it to be a serious setback. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It sounds like he is day-to-day to resume his rehab assignment. Durham is off Tuesday, so he will be re-evaluated Wednesday. Franco began his rehab assignment Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.
Sep 3 2022Franco (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco hit on the field ahead of Saturday's game against the Yankees and will see some game action in the minors to close out the weekend. The 21-year-old is expected to remain in the minors for about a week, so Franco seems likely to be back in action around Sept. 12, when the Rays begin a series in Toronto.
Sep 2 2022Franco (wrist) said Friday that he feels "super good" and believes he is nearing a return, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He started hitting in batting practice at the beginning of this week and hasn't had any issues with his wrist. If all continues to go well, Franco said he expects to go to Triple-A Durham for a few rehab games. This isn't a concrete timeline provided by the team, but it sounds like Franco could be activated as soon as next week.
Aug 25 2022Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Franco (wrist) won't resume his rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham until next week at the soonest, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Franco no longer seems to be experiencing discomfort in his surgically repaired right wrist after taking swings and fielding grounders Tuesday before advancing to a full workout Wednesday, the Rays seem content to take things slowly with the star 21-year-old. Assuming he makes it through the weekend without any setbacks, Franco could resume action at Durham as soon as next Tuesday. Since Franco played in only one rehab game before being pulled off the assignment last week, the Rays may want to see him play a handful of games in Durham before bringing him back from the 10-day injured list.
Aug 24 2022Franco said his surgically repaired right wrist didn't bother him while he took swings in the batting cage and fielded grounders Tuesday, and he expects to resume his rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham within the coming days, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco appeared in a game for Durham on Aug. 16, but after experiencing discomfort in the wrist, he didn't play any of the following four days before being pulled off the assignment Sunday. Fortunately for the Rays, the 21-year-old doesn't appear to be dealing with a major setback, given that he was able to resume baseball activities Tuesday. Franco is scheduled to go through a full workout Wednesday, and if all goes well, the Rays could be comfortable sending him back to Durham for game action.
Aug 21 2022Franco was pulled off his rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham on Sunday after experiencing lingering soreness in his surgically-repaired right wrist while swinging the bat, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting the rehab assignment at Durham on Tuesday, Franco appeared in just one game before the Rays opted to have him rest for a few days with the hope that it provide sufficient time for the pain in his wrist to dissipate. However, the four consecutive days off apparently weren't enough to resolve the issue, so Franco will head back to the team's facility in St. Petersburg for further treatment. Since he hasn't played for the big club since July 9, Franco will likely need to head back to a minor-league affiliate for game action at some point before being activated from the 10-day injured list, but it's unclear when he might be able to do in light of the setback.
Aug 18 2022Franco (wrist) is not in the lineup Thursday for Triple-A Durham, according to play-by-play announcer Patrick Kinas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco will sit for a second straight day while undergoing treatment on his sore wrist. According to Durham manager Brady Williams, Franco's absence is "more about pain tolerance and being pain-free" while swinging than anything else. It's unclear when Franco will take the field next, but it's a good sign that he has not been recalled from his rehab assignment.
Aug 17 2022Franco (wrist) received treatment after experiencing soreness in his right hand Tuesday and isn't playing Wednesday for Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 21-year-old exited his first rehab game Tuesday due to the soreness, and he'll have to wait at least one day before rejoining Durham's lineup. Tampa Bay previously hoped Franco would be able to rejoin the big-league club this weekend, but that timeline may be pushed back. He'll be re-evaluated Thursday and should be considered day-to-day in the meantime.
Aug 16 2022Franco (wrist) was removed from his rehab game with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday due to general soreness in his right hand, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was the first game of Franco's rehab assignment, so it's an ominous sign he was unable to finish the contests. It may not be a serious issue as the 21-year-old could be back in the lineup for Durham on Wednesday, but it's worth keeping an eye on his status over the next couple days.
Aug 15 2022Franco (wrist) could return from the 10-day injured list as early as this weekend, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is expected to join Triple-A Durham for a rehab assignment early this week, and he's closing in on his return from the injured list. Even if the 21-year-old isn't cleared to rejoin the Rays for their home series against the Royals this weekend, he'll likely be able to return sometime next week.
Aug 13 2022Franco (wrist) is nearing a rehab assignment that will begin with the Rays' Florida Complex League team, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco recently began running, playing catch and hitting off a tee. He'll begin the next step towards a return in the coming days, though no exact date was provided. It's unclear how long Franco's rehab assignment may last, but a return during the team's upcoming weekend series against the Royals seems possible.
Aug 10 2022Franco (wrist) could be ready to resume taking live batting practice as soon as Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just under a month after getting surgery to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, Franco appears to be roughly in line with where the Rays had hoped he would be up to this point in his recovery. He'll likely hit off a tee or take dry swings over the next few days as the Rays look to gauge whether he's fit to face live pitching this weekend. If Franco does get the green light to take BP, he could be cleared to start throwing and taking part in fielding work next week. Franco was expected to be sidelined for 5-to-8 weeks at the time of his surgery, so he would seemingly have a shot at being ready to return from the IL by the end of August.
Jul 12 2022Franco announced Tuesday via his personal Instagram account that he had successful surgery on his right wrist, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is expected to require 5-to-8 weeks of recovery time after getting the procedure to repair a fractured hamate bone. Taylor Walls is expected to serve as the Rays' everyday shortstop while Franco is on the 10-day injured list.
Jul 11 2022Franco (wrist) will undergo surgery Tuesday to repair his fractured hamate bone and is expected to require 5-to-8 weeks of recovery time, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 21-year-old was diagnosed with a hamate injury in his right wrist over the weekend, but the Rays didn't immediately announce whether or not he would require a procedure. With surgery now having been deemed necessary, Franco won't be in line to rejoin the Rays until at least mid-August. Taylor Walls should serve as the Rays' primary shortstop while Franco is sidelined.
Jul 10 2022Franco (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 21-year-old is dealing with a hamate injury in his right wrist that could require surgery, with the resulting procedure expected to sideline him for 6-to-8 weeks. Franco will be further evaluated Monday when the Rays return from their current road trip, which could bring more clarity regarding whether or not he'll need surgery. Taylor Walls is expected to take over as Tampa Bay's primary shortstop, while Yu Chang and Jonathan Aranda could also see increased playing time in Franco's absence.
Jul 9 2022Franco will be placed on the injured list after suffering a hamate injury Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco has been hampered by lower-body injuries throughout the first half of the season, and he will be forced to miss more time with the current issue. He was spotted with his right hand in a brace and will undergo further evaluation Monday, though Topkin has suggested Franco could be in for an absence between six and eight weeks.
Jul 2 2022Franco went 2-for-8 with two walks, a solo home run and three total runs scored while starting both games of Saturday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting at shortstop in the matinee, Franco served as the designated hitter for the evening game. The homer in Game 1 was Franco's first since April 26. The 21-year-old just returned last weekend from a quad injury that cost him close to a month, and with better health, Franco's numbers should improve in the second half.
Jun 27 2022Franco went 1-for-5 Sunday against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco returned from nearly a month-long absence caused by a quadriceps issue. His lone hit came in the third inning on an infield single, though it was encouraging that he was able to get down the line without a problem. Franco had failed to homer in 110 at-bats prior to going down with the injury, but it's possible he'll pick up his power pace now that he's presumably back to full health.
Jun 26 2022The Rays activated Franco (quadriceps) from the 10-day injured list Sunday. He'll start at shortstop and bat second in the Rays' series finale with the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was on the shelf for just under a month with a left quad strain, but the 21-year-old looks ready to go after recently wrapping up a five-game rehab assignment in the minors. He'll immediately slot back in as Tampa Bay's everyday shortstop, leaving Taylor Walls and Vidal Brujan to vie for playing time at the keystone.
Jun 25 2022Franco (quadriceps) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list either Sunday or Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco appeared in his fifth rehab game Friday with Triple-A Durham, and he's rejoining the big-league club Saturday to be evaluated before potentially being activated. The 21-year-old could be back for Sunday's series finale versus Pittsburgh, but the team may opt to take advantage of Monday's scheduled day off and instead give him an extra day before reinstating him ahead of Tuesday's matchup with Milwaukee.
Jun 23 2022Franco (quadriceps) went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco hit second and started at shortstop but didn't play the full game with two more rehab appearances on tap this week. Assuming all goes well across his three total games with Durham, Franco could be activated Saturday during Tampa Bay's three-game series against Pittsburgh.
Jun 21 2022Franco (quadriceps) is set to move his rehab assignment Wednesday to Triple-A Durham from the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Between games Saturday and Monday in the FCL, Franco went 3-for-7 with a pair of extra-base hits, an RBI and a run scored. Even though he ended up getting a tough test Monday with rehabbing Red Sox starter Chris Sale (rib cage) on the mound for Boston's FCL affiliate, Franco will have higher-level minor-league pitching in Durham, with whom he's expected to appear in games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He'll be re-evaluated thereafter and could be cleared to return from the 10-day injured list for the Rays' game Saturday versus the Pirates.
Jun 17 2022Manager Kevin Cash said Friday that Franco (quadriceps) could rejoin the Rays for next weekend's series against the Pirates, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco responded well to full workouts Thursday and Friday and has officially been cleared to serve as the designated hitter in a game with the Rays' rookie-level Florida Coast League affiliate Saturday prior to playing shortstop Monday. If he feels good afterward, he's expected to report to Triple-A Durham next week as the final step in his recovery process.
Jun 16 2022Manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Franco (quadriceps) is running well and will go through full workouts Thursday and Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco resumed agility work Monday and has made good progress in his recovery over the last couples days. As long as he feels good during his workouts to close out the week, Cash said the 21-year-old could serve as the designated hitter in a Florida Coast League game Saturday.
Jun 13 2022Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco (quadriceps) is scheduled to begin agility work Monday, Brian Hall of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A few days earlier, Cash told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times that he didn't anticipate Franco would be ready to return from the 10-day injured list this week, so fantasy managers should continue to keep the 21-year-old on their reserve list for now. The impending agility work will mark Franco's first activity since he strained his right quad while running the bases in a May 30 game. Given Franco's long-term importance to the franchise, the Rays may want him to first test his quad in a brief minor-league rehab assignment before activating him from the IL.
Jun 6 2022Franco has yet to resume baseball activities since suffering a right quadriceps strain May 30, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: When Franco was placed on the 10-day injured list a day after suffering the injury, the Rays initially had optimism the star shortstop would be ready to return to action two weeks later. However, with Franco having yet to return to the field in any capacity in the week since he injured his quad, he could be facing a longer recovery timeline than expected. Taylor Walls should continue to receive the bulk of the starts at shortstop while Franco is on the IL.
May 31 2022Franco (quadriceps), who was placed on the 10-day injured list earlier Tuesday, said he hopes to rejoin the active roster in about two weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco also indicated his absence could be longer as his rehab process goes day-by-day, but at this point there's hope he won't be sidelined much beyond the 10-day minimum. Taylor Walls should work as Tampa Bay's primary shortstop in the meantime, with Vidal Brujan and Isaac Paredes likely to see more time between second and third base.
May 30 2022Franco was removed from Monday night's game against the Rangers due to a quadriceps injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Kevin Cash stated after the game that Franco was lifted after feeling a tug in his quad. The team intends to re-evaluate him in the morning to determine whether he can play in the second game of the series.
May 28 2022Franco went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk and a run scored Saturday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco struck out in each of his first two at-bats but led off the eighth inning with a triple before coming around to score. He's shown a concerning lack of power in May -- he entered Saturday with just a .247 slugging percentage across 85 at-bats in the month -- but he now has two doubles and a triple across his last four games. That's not enough to completely alleviate concerns regarding his recent struggles, though it appears that he is finding his swing again. Overall, Franco has maintained a .263/.293/.421 line across 181 plate appearances.
May 26 2022Franco went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and an RBI on Wednesday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco did most of his damage in the opening frame, smacking an RBI double and coming around to score. It marked his first multi-hit effort since May 9, during which time he hit just .051 with one RBI and three runs scored in 11 starts. Overall, Franco has maintained a .267/.294/.422 line across 170 plate appearances.
May 24 2022Franco went 0-for-4 Tuesday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was in the lineup after missing two games due to a quadriceps injury. He was hitless and grounded out in all four of his plate appearances. More concerning is the fact that Franco is still dealing with discomfort and essentially remains day-to-day, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
May 22 2022Franco (quadriceps) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Baltimore, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 21-year-old suffered the quad injury during Friday's contest and will be out of the starting nine for the second consecutive game. Franco will now have Monday's scheduled off day to aid in his recovery, and he's hopeful to be ready to go for Tuesday's series opener against the Marlins, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Taylor Walls will receive another start at shortstop Sunday while Isaac Paredes starts at third base.
May 21 2022Franco (quadriceps) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco tweaked his right quad in the top of the 13th inning Friday, and he'll be held out of the lineup a day later. Whether he's available off the bench is uncertain, but Taylor Walls will shift to shortstop while Harold Ramirez enters the lineup as the designated hitter.
May 20 2022Franco felt tightness in his right quadriceps while rounding third base in the top of the 13th inning Friday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco didn't slide into home on a close play at the plate in extra innings Friday, and he revealed after the game that he was dealing with a quad injury. He went 0-for-5 with a walk in the 8-6 loss and said he isn't yet sure whether he'll be available Saturday against Baltimore. If Franco is held out, Taylor Walls or Vidal Brujan would likely fill in at shortstop.
May 18 2022Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base Wednesday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco reached base multiple times in a game for the first time in seven starts, collecting only one hit across 26 at-bats in the span. However, Franco was productive early on in Wednesday's game, tallying his run scored in the first frame prior to stealing his fourth base of the season one inning later. Overall, Franco is hitting .272/.297/.429 with 23 runs scored, 16 RBI and four home runs across 155 plate appearances on the campaign.
May 10 2022Franco doesn't have an injury and was removed from Tuesday's game against the Angels for rest purposes, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco appeared to suffer an injury when running out a groundball Tuesday, but he was instead removed for rest purposes amid an 8-0 blowout. The 21-year-old went 0-for-2 prior to his exit and should be in the lineup for Wednesday's series finale versus the Angels.
May 2 2022Franco went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI on Monday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco returned to the lineup as expected from a one-game absence caused by a tight hamstring. He didn't appear to be bothered by the issue, as he singled in a run in the second inning before coming around to score. Franco has been a late scratch twice this season due to hamstring tightness, so that may be a situation to monitor moving forward. However, there are no concerns about his performance when on the field, as he's hitting .322/.341/.575 with 15 runs scored and 14 RBI across 91 plate appearances to begin the campaign.
May 1 2022Franco was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins due to right hamstring tightness, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As a result of Franco's late removal from the lineup, designated hitter Manuel Margot will now bat second for the Rays, while Taylor Walls shifts over from third base to cover Franco's usual position at shortstop. The Rays haven't provided word on the extent of Franco's injury, so he can be viewed as day-to-day heading into Monday's series opener in Oakland until manager Kevin Cash elaborates further on the matter.
Apr 26 2022Franco went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer in an 8-4 loss Tuesday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco homered off Matt Koch in the seventh inning. The homer ended an 0-for-12 mini-slump that saw his batting average drop below .350 for the first time all season. There's little to worry about, as the 21-year-old has homered four times in the last six games and has 12 extra-base hits in 16 appearances. Despite striking out twice Tuesday, the shortstop has only fanned seven times in 71 plate appearances this year.
Apr 22 2022Franco went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in a 4-3 loss Friday against Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco homered off Michael Wacha in the first and fifth innings, accounting for all of Tampa Bay's runs off the starter. He came to the plate with the Rays down 4-3 with two outs in the ninth and nearly walked it off but Trevor Story made a nice play on a sharply hit ground ball to end the game. The 21-year-old is off to an incredible start with 11 extra-base hits in 13 games and a 1.111 OPS. He's recorded multiple hits in eight games this season.
Apr 19 2022Franco went 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and a double in the victory over the Cubs on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After missing Monday's loss with quadriceps tightness, Franco returned with a bang and produced his second consecutive multi-hit performance. The shortstop took the Cub's starter Justin Steele deep for a two-run shot in the top of the third before later adding both a double in the fifth and a single in the ninth. The long ball was his first of the campaign and he is now batting an impressive .404 with seven extra-base hits.
Apr 18 2022Franco (quadriceps) is expected to be in the lineup Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was originally in the lineup Monday, only to be scratched with tightness in his right quadriceps. He was reportedly available to pinch hit and nearly entered Monday's loss to the Cubs in the ninth inning. Though a return Tuesday is realistic, even if Franco is held out of the lineup again, his absence doesn't look likely to cost him an extended stretch of game action.
Apr 12 2022Franco went 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, an RBI, a walk and two runs during Tuesday's 9-8, extra-inning win over the A's. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 21-year-old was unable to deliver his third consecutive three-hit game, but he settled for a fourth multi-hit effort in five contests. Franco has yet to hit his first home run, but it's still been a productive start to the campaign with a .550 average, a triple, three doubles, four RBI and five runs.
Apr 11 2022Franco went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in a loss to Oakland on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tampa Bay fell behind early and was never competitive in its first loss of the campaign, but Franco provided a moral boost by extending his strong start to the season. The 21-year-old notched his third three-hit game over the Rays' first four contests, pushing his average up to .600 over 16 at-bats. Franco has yet to go deep, but he has two doubles among his nine hits.
Apr 10 2022Franco went 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 8-0 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco helped Tampa Bay complete a three-game sweep to begin the 2022 campaign. He drilled a two-run single in the seventh inning and finished the series 6-for-11 with a pair of strikeouts. Taylor Walls replaced him near the end of the game and got an at-bat in the eighth inning of the blowout victory.
Apr 8 2022Franco went 3-for-4 with three singles in Friday's 2-1 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Picking up right where he left off in his terrific rookie campaign, Franco made hard contact all day and was rewarded with three hits. He posted a subpar .637 OPS through 32 spring plate appearances but showed no signs of it in the Rays' first game. The star shortstop slashed .288/.347/.463 in 70 MLB games last season.
Nov 23 2021Franco and the Rays agreed to terms Monday on an 11-year contract extension, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Minor details are reportedly still yet to be finalized, but the contract will guarantee the young shortstop at least $182 million and could be worth up to $223 million thanks to escalators plus a $25 million team option for a 12th season. The extension keeps Franco under team control through the 2033 campaign, at which point he'll still be just 32 years old and could be in line for another large contract if his career plays out as many expect. Franco impressed in his 70-game debut last season, hitting .288/.347/.463 while playing solid defense at shortstop, but he has the potential to improve far beyond that already impressive level considering that he's still just 20 years old.
Oct 10 2021Franco went 2-for-6 with a solo homer and two runs in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco sparked a rally in the top of the eighth inning with his first home run of the postseason. The 20-year-old has been effective across his first three playoff appearances, going 6-for-15 with a homer, two doubles, four runs and two RBI.
Oct 8 2021Franco went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run in Game 1 of the ALDS against Boston on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 20-year-old wasted no time making an impact in his playoff debut, as he clubbed a double during the opening frame to score Randy Arozarena from first base. Franco then came around to score, and he was stranded at second after doubling again during the seventh inning. Franco delivered an .810 OPS in his first 70 big-league games this year and clearly isn't fazed by the postseason spotlight.
Oct 2 2021Franco went 1-for-5 with a two-run single in a win over the Yankees on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: One night after seeing his on-base streak come to a halt at 43 games, Franco reached safely in his final at-bat, extending the Rays' lead to 4-1 in the top of the ninth with a timely knock. The 20-year-old phenom appears fully prepared to thrive in the postseason spotlight if his body of work over his first 68 big-league games (.284/.346/.465 slash line) is any indication.
Sep 30 2021Franco went 0-for-4 in a loss to the Astros on Thursday, ending his on-base streak at 43 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco showed no signs of cooling off in Tuesday's win over Houston, when he went 3-for-5 with a double to match the legendary Frank Robinson for the longest on-base streak by a player 20 years of age and under. The conclusion of Franco's phenomenal run came under bizarre conditions as well, as the rookie actually reached first base three times Thursday on two fielder's choice groundouts and an infield single that was ultimately reversed via instant replay. Despite the disappointment, Franco looks primed to not only play a pivotal role in the Rays' upcoming postseason run, but for many seasons to come as well.
Sep 26 2021Franco went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs scored in Sunday's 3-2 win over Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is up to 41 consecutive games reaching base as the superstar rookie continues to impress. He doubled and scored in the first inning before ripping a triple and scoring again in the fifth. He improved his season slash line to .287/.350/.476 with 29 extra-base hits through 280 plate appearances.
Sep 25 2021Franco is available off the bench Saturday and should see normal usage over the rest of the season, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He only got into one rehab game on his way back from a hamstring injury, so the Rays wanted to give him a breather Saturday. Manager Kevin Cash said Franco will start Sunday, and with an off day Monday, he shouldn't need any scheduled days off next week.
Sep 24 2021Franco went 1-for-4 with a double and a walk in Friday's 8-0 victory over Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Making his first appearance since Sep. 10, Franco extended his on-base streak to 40 games after a sixth-inning walk. He then knocked a double in the eighth. The star rookie is hitting .323 during his on-base streak and now owns an .812 OPS on the year.
Sep 23 2021Franco (hamstring) went 0-for-1 with two walks and a run in Triple-A Durham's win over Gwinnett on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was limited to a three-inning simulated game Wednesday after the Bulls' contest against the Stripers was rained out, and he was able to run the bases and take groundballs in each frame. He then started and played the full game at shortstop in Game 1 of Thursday's twin bill, leaving him poised for a likely activation from the injured list Friday.
Sep 22 2021Franco (hamstring) was unable to take part in his first rehab game Wednesday due to Triple-A Durham's contest against Gwinnett being postponed by inclement weather. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Adam Berry of MLB.com relays Franco reported to Durham on Tuesday and was able to log five at-bats in live batting practice while also fielding groundballs at shortstop without setbacks. Getting live at-bats in game action would have been the next step Wednesday, but due to the postponement, Franco will hope to be able to take the field Thursday before a likely Friday activation.
Sep 20 2021Manager Kevin Cash said Franco (hamstring) could return from the 10-day injured list Friday ahead of the Rays' series opener with the Marlins, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is slated to report to Triple-A Durham for a workout Tuesday before entering the Bulls' lineup Wednesday and Thursday. If Franco's strained right hamstring checks out fine following the back-to-back appearances, the Rays likely won't have much hesitation about activating him for the weekend. Before landing on the shelf, Franco pieced together a 39-game on-base streak, during which he hit .325 with 20 extra-base hits, 37 runs and 26 RBI.
Sep 18 2021Franco (hamstring) looked good running the infield arc from first to third base prior to Friday's game against the Tigers, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The quickly-recovering shortstop also took batting practice and fielded grounders, making it a very good day's work in his bid to spend only the minimum time on the injured list. Franco is eligible to be activated Tuesday, and although the postseason-minded Rays may opt to hold him out a little longer, it appears the 20-year-old will have a chance to get in some regular-season at-bats in before suiting up for his first playoff series.
Sep 16 2021Franco (hamstring) hopes to rejoin the major-league roster sometime next week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco has participated in on-field work the last two days, and he said Thursday that his hamstring feels much better. The infielder is eligible to return as early as Tuesday, but the Rays will presumably make sure he's feeling 100 percent healthy before he's activated.
Sep 15 2021Franco (hamstring) was slated to hit off a tee and take part in some pregame on-field activities Wednesday, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's been a good week for the recovering shortstop thus far, as manager Kevin Cash also received glowing reports about Franco's progress Monday from Major League medical coordinator Paul Harker. Based on current developments, it seems like Franco has a fighting chance at getting at least a handful of games in before the beginning of the postseason, although given the volatile nature of soft-tissue injuries, his progress will bear monitoring.
Sep 11 2021Franco (hamstring) was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This move was expected after Franco suffered a right hamstring strain Friday against the Tigers. Taylor Walls was recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Walls will be the primary shortstop while Franco is sidelined. Franco will get an MRI on Saturday and the hope is he will be able to return before the end of the regular season.
Sep 10 2021Franco (hamstring) is expected to miss additional time following Friday's early exit, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco will be further examined to determine the extent of his injury, but the Rays are hopeful that he's only dealing with a strain rather than a more serious issue. However, manager Kevin Cash said that the 20-year-old will likely require a trip to the injured list. Joey Wendle should see additional time at shortstop in Franco's absence, while Yandy Diaz will likely see increased time at third base.
Sep 6 2021Franco went 4-for-6 with a triple and three runs scored in Monday's 11-10 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco extended his on-base streak to 36 games with his first-inning triple and came around to score three times in the afternoon victory. He's gone 8-for-16 (.500) with five runs scored in the last three games and owns a .336 batting average during his on-base streak. The rookie infielder is up to 48 runs and 26 extra-base hits with an .824 OPS through 261 plate appearances.
Sep 5 2021Franco went 2-for-5 with a double in a loss to the Twins on Sunday, giving him back-to-back two-hit efforts since his return from a one-game absence due to a head injury. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The brief sabbatical did nothing to cool off Franco, who'd generated multi-hit tallies in seven of his previous 16 contests as well. Franco's production Sunday pushed his constantly improving season slash line to .280/.341/.461 with 25 extra-base hits.
Sep 4 2021Franco (head) will bat second and play shortstop Saturday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco left Thursday's game with a headache and didn't participate in Friday's contest, but his absence wasn't expected to be a long one. He'll look to continue a hot streak which has seen him hit .327/.392/.558 while striking out in just 7.2 percent of his plate appearances over his last 29 games.
Sep 3 2021Franco (head) does not have a concussion and should return Saturday or Sunday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He exited Thursday's game with a headache and was held out again Friday, but thankfully a stint on the injured list is not in the cards. Taylor Walls will likely start at shortstop if Franco needs another day off.
Sep 2 2021Franco left Thursday's game due to a headache, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco extended his on-base streak to 33 games with a seventh-inning walk, but he was replaced by Joey Wendle before running the bases. Manager Kevin Cash said after the contest Franco will be monitored for concussion symptoms and will be evaluated again Friday.
Sep 1 2021Franco went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Wednesday's loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie took Chris Sale deep in the fourth inning, driving in teammate Nelson Cruz in the process. Franco has now registered at least one hit in five consecutive games and 14 of his last 15 contests. Since August 14, he has raised his batting average from .238 to .277 with 10 extra-base hits and 13 RBI.
Aug 31 2021Franco went 1-for-5 with a two-run single in a win over the Red Sox on Monday and now has 10 RBI over his last 13 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco is slashing an outstanding .377/.431/.566 during that span as well while striking out at a minuscule 3.4 percent clip. The 20-year-old phenom is progressively approaching the caliber of production he consistently managed against overmatched minor-league arms since the start of his pro career in 2018, and with just over a month still remaining in the regular season, he could be at his peak heading into the postseason.
Aug 26 2021Franco went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two runs in a win over the Phillies on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco continued his torrid tear at the plate, one that's seen him lace multiple hits in three of his last four games and hit safely in nine consecutive contests overall. The 20-year-old phenom, who never hit below .315 at any minor-league stop, appears to be well on his way to gaining similar mastery over big-league arms and now boasts a .790 OPS through 216 plate appearances.
Aug 22 2021Franco went 2-for-5 with two doubles, one RBI and three runs scored in Sunday's 9-0 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco doubled in a run and came around to score in the third inning and later crossed home in the sixth and seventh frames. The superstar rookie is now riding a 24-game on-base streak, going 29-for-93 (.312) with 13 extra-base hits and 23 runs scored during that span. During his current seven-game hitting streak, he's 12-for-28 (.429) while striking out just one time.
Aug 21 2021Franco went 3-for-9 with an RBI single, a run-scoring double and three runs in Friday's and Saturday's games against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hot-hitting shortstop recorded an RBI infield single in Friday's extra-innings loss before coming through with a timely two-bagger in Saturday's win that plated Nelson Cruz with Tampa Bay's first run of the day. The productive pair of outings is par for the course for Franco in August, a month in which he's knocked in 14 runs over 17 games with the aid of seven extra-base hits (four doubles, three home runs).
Aug 19 2021Franco went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, two RBI and one run Wednesday in the Rays' 8-4 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With only six home runs and two stolen bases through his first 189 big-league plate appearances, Franco isn't wowing from a fantasy standpoint, but the touted rookie is at least starting to settle into a comfort zone at the plate following a slow start to his career. Through 14 games in August, Franco is slashing .291/.361/.509. He'll start at shortstop and bat second in Thursday's series finale.
Aug 16 2021Franco is out of the lineup Monday versus Baltimore, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco started the last 11 games and will head to the bench after posting a .783 OPS during that stretch. Joey Wendle will take over at shortstop in the series opener.
Aug 12 2021Franco went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 8-1 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco homered off Tanner Houck in the sixth inning to give the Rays the lead. He has at least one RBI in each of his last six games and he's reached base safely in his last 16 games. The rookie is slashing .242/.304/.405 with five long balls, 22 RBI, 23 runs and a pair of steals in 168 plate appearances.
Aug 7 2021Franco is 3-for-10 with a home run, three RBI and two runs over the first two games of the weekend series against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie shortstop went 2-for-5 with a two-run single and a run in Friday's series opener before belting a 414-foot shot to right field in the eighth inning of Saturday's 12-3 win, his fourth homer of the campaign. Franco had been on an impressive tear coming into the series as well, as he'd produced a .319/.373/.447 slash line over the 51 plate appearances covering his previous 12 games.
Aug 2 2021Franco isn't starting Monday against the Mariners, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco will get a breather for the first time since July 19 after he went 6-for-11 with two triples, a double, four RBI and three runs across the last three games. Joey Wendle will start at shortstop and bat fifth.
Jul 31 2021Franco, who went 2-for-4 with a two-run double, a triple and a run in a win over the Red Sox on Friday, owns a .303/.361/.424 slash line over the 36 plate appearances covering his last eight games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Arguably just as important is the fact Franco has struck out at a modest 16.7 percent rate in that sample after carrying a notably more elevated 22.7 percent figure in his first 20 big-league contests. The more consistent contact lends credence to the notion the phenom is quickly adapting to the intricacies of facing big-league arms, just as he did at every minor-league stop during his meteoric rise through the organizational ranks.
Jul 23 2021Franco went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco now has back-to-back multi-hit games for the first time this season, but the star prospect has struggled at the dish at times and is only hitting .233 with a .664 OPS through his first 98 big-league plate appearances. He has time on his side to get better and should eventually adjust to handle MLB-caliber pitching, but it's been a slow start to his life at the MLB level.
Jul 19 2021Franco will sit Monday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A lukewarm first 18 games shouldn't significantly diminish the hype surrounding a young player with as much pedigree as Franco, but it's fair to say the 20-year-old hasn't set the world on fire thus far. In his first 80 trips to the plate, he's slashed just .216/.275/.392, with his 23.8 percent strikeout rate, while still a perfectly fine number, more than tripling his career 7.9 percent mark in the minors. He'll get a rest Monday, with Taylor Walls starting at shortstop.
Jul 17 2021Franco went 2-for-6 with a triple and two runs in an extra-inning win over Atlanta on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco's average had dipped below .200 on the last day of the first half, but the rookie phenom bounced back nicely in his return to action Friday. The three-bagger was Franco's first at the big-league level, and he's now laced five of his 14 hits for extra bases.
Jul 12 2021Franco went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in a loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday, pushing his average down to .197 across his first 66 big-league plate appearances. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie phenom is naturally still experiencing the ups and downs inherent in a player's first foray against major-league pitching, with Franco closing out the first half of the season by striking out in six of nine plate appearances over the last two games. Despite the occasional struggles, Franco has certainly showed glimpses of his expansive upside at the plate, recently putting together an eight-game hitting streak during which he struck out at a modest 11.8 percent clip. Considering his prodigious talent, fantasy managers should have plenty to look forward to in the second half of the campaign as Franco continues to master the intricacies of big-league arms.
Jul 10 2021Franco is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: An 0-for-5, four-strikeout performance Friday dropped Franco's average to .211 in 57 big-league at-bats. Despite his struggles at the plate, the Rays figure to be patient with their top prospect as he adjusts to MLB pitching. Taylor Walls will start at shortstop and bat sixth Saturday.
Jul 7 2021Franco isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco will be out of the lineup for the first time since he was called up by the Rays on June 22. He's slashed .229/.302/.396 with two home runs, seven RBI, seven runs and two stolen bases across 12 major-league games. Taylor Walls will start at shortstop while Vidal Brujan makes his big-league debut at second base.
Jul 5 2021Franco went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in a win over the Blue Jays on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie phenom clocked a 383-foot shot to right center in the sixth inning to knot the score at 1-1. Franco is seemingly hitting his stride the more reps he gets against big-league arms, as he's now sporting a six-game hitting streak during which he's hitting .333 (8-for-24) while striking out at an impressively modest 12.0 percent clip.
Jun 28 2021Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run in a loss to the Angels on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The dynamic rookie snapped out of the 0-for-15 slump that had encompassed his last four games with Sunday's effort. Franco has unsurprisingly encountered some struggles since a spectacular 2-for-4 debut Tuesday that featured a three-run home run, but outside of a three-strikeout day Thursday against the Red Sox, he's encouragingly punched out on only two other occasions over his first six games.
Jun 22 2021Franco went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double, an additional run scored and a walk in Tuesday's 9-5 loss to the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco showed that he was worth all the hype Tuesday, slamming a game-tying three-run home run in the fifth inning for his first career hit. In addition, he later added a double for his second hit. The 20-year-old looked like a veteran in his first plate appearance, drawing a walk on four straight balls after being down 0-2 in the count. The sky's the limit for Franco, but don't be surprised if he goes through some rough patches in his rookie campaign.
Jun 20 2021Franco has been told by the Rays that he'll be called up ahead of Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco cemented his status as baseball's top prospect with Triple-A Durham to begin the season, as he slashed .323/.376/.601 with seven home runs, 35 RBI, 30 runs and five stolen bases in 38 games. While Taylor Walls had been serving as the Rays' shortstop after Willy Adames was traded, Franco should see regular playing time in the infield right away.
May 21 2021Franco, who's slashing .283/.333/.533 with eight extra-base hits and 10 RBI across 66 plate appearances at Triple-A Durham, is presumably one step closer to a big-league promotion after Willy Adames was traded to the Brewers on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As those numbers indicate, Franco is more than holding his own in his first exposure to Triple-A arms, and the fact he's only struck out at a 13.6 percent clip further supports the notion he's not being fooled very often. However, Taylor Walls, who is getting the call up from the Bulls, has been even more effective, slashing .327/.468/.490 over his first 62 plate appearances of the minor-league season. Franco will therefore continue getting regular reps at Durham for the time being, but Adames' departure represents the removal of one obstacle from his path to the majors.
May 6 2021Franco went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a solo home run in a win over Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: One day after opening the minor-league season with a 3-for-5 night that included a triple and two RBI, Franco launched his first round tripper against Triple-A arms. The 20-year-old's torrid start isn't likely to be fully sustainable, but given Franco's vast talent, it wouldn't be surprising to see him continue thriving consistently until he inevitably forces the organization's hand in terms of a big-league promotion.
May 5 2021Franco went 3-for-5 with a triple, stolen base, two RBI and a run in Triple-A Durham's 7-5 win over Memphis on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Playing above the High-A level for the first time in his career, the 20-year-old uber-prospect certainly didn't look out of place. He was responsible for the game's most pivotal hit, as his seventh-inning infield single plated the go-ahead run. Franco is poised to make his MLB debut at some point in 2021, and he could already represent a notable upgrade from the Rays' incumbent shortstop, Willy Adames, who has posted a .546 OPS through 30 games.
Apr 29 2021Franco will open the season with Triple-A Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 20-year-old phenom has yet to play above High-A and only spent 52 games at that level in 2019, but it's no surprise that the Rays see him as a Triple-A player following a year of development at the team's alternate training site. It would be no surprise if Franco dominates Triple-A pitching, as he has one of the best hit tools for a prospect in recent memory, as evidenced by his .336/.405/.523 slash line and 7.0 percent strikeout rate in 175 career minor-league games. The Rays have yet to offer much clarity on when he's expected to make his big-league debut, but his assignment to the highest level of the minors indicates they don't think he's far off.
Mar 15 2021The Rays reassigned Franco to their minor-league camp Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tampa Bay's demotion of its top prospect doesn't come as a major surprise, as Franco was always expected to get a little more seasoning in the upper levels of the minors before making his MLB debut at some point later this season. Franco made a positive impression over his seven games with the Rays during the Grapefruit League slate, going 5-for-17 with a home run.
Mar 3 2021Franco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League win over the Pirates, with Adam Berry of MLB.com reporting the round tripper appeared to land on the roof of the Rays' office behind right field at Charlotte Sports Park. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays will do their best to stick to what would seem to be a level-headed approach of giving Franco some more minor-league seasoning for at least part of 2021, but the elite prospect may simply force the team's hand with respect to speeding up the timeline for his majors debut. Franco's second-inning blast off reliever Miguel Yajure easily scaled the boardwalk neighboring the right-field fence before finally making its descent, giving him a very memorable first hit of spring after an 0-for-5 tally over his first pair of Grapefruit League outings. Franco should continue to see plenty of at-bats for the balance of spring training, and although his pedigree keeps any possibility in play, it's likeliest he opens 2021 in the minors, potentially at Triple-A Durham.
Feb 27 2021Franco is no longer dealing with the shoulder issue that hindered him in winter ball and feels good to begin spring training, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco was diagnosed with biceps inflammation and shoulder soreness following an injury while playing winter ball, but he wasn't dealing with any structural damage or long-term issues. The Rays should continue to monitor his status early in spring training to prevent any further issues as he resumes baseball activities, but he should have a fairly normal spring as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks. The league's top prospect will have his preparedness closely monitored while serving as a non-roster invitee during spring training, but he could be on track to make his major-league debut at some point in 2021.
Feb 18 2021Rays general manager Erik Neander says that Franco (biceps), the organization's top prospect, will have every aspect of his physical and mental preparedness closely monitored while he plays out his spring training invite, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 19-year-old phenom is considered to be relatively close to the big leagues despite his precocious age and the lost 2020 minor-league season. Franco is not only considered the Rays' top prospect by far, but he's been the consensus No. 1 in all of baseball two years running. Winter ball was supposed to help Franco make up for some lost developmental time late in 2020, but he was only able to log five games before shoulder soreness and biceps inflammation led to a shutdown. He's not expected to face any limitations once spring training begins, and Neander notes that Franco's elite pedigree notwithstanding, the shortstop will have "nothing handed to him" and will see his physical, emotional and mental maturity heavily evaluated during his time around the big-league club over the next several weeks. Franco's most recent minor-league stop was High-A Charlotte back in 2019, and given his level of dominance at that level, it wouldn't be the least bit surprising to see him already start the 2021 campaign at Triple-A Durham.
Feb 1 2021Franco (biceps) was invited to the Rays' big-league camp Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Franco might not be given serious consideration for an Opening Day roster spot, as he's yet to play above High-A, but his debut probably isn't too far off. While he's still just 19 years old, his bat is incredibly advanced for his age, as he owns a career .336/.405/.523 slash line with more walks than strikeouts in 175 games as a professional, numbers that would be impressive anywhere, let alone shortstop. Franco suffered a biceps injury in the Dominican Republic over the winter but appears to have escaped without any structural damage.
Dec 3 2020Franco was officially diagnosed with biceps inflammation and shoulder soreness, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was examined in St. Petersburg and there was no structural damage or long-term concern. Franco won't play winter ball again this season, but he should be ready to go for spring training. This is still mildly concerning, as inflammation could reoccur or get worse when he resumes baseball activities. Assuming he is healthy, Franco should spend the bulk of spring training in big-league camp and could debut this summer.
Nov 26 2020Franco (sore right biceps) has returned to the United States to be evaluated by the Rays team doctors, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. The club is hopeful it is not a serious injury. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The game's top prospect was playing in the Dominican Winter League but had been sidelined for a week due to the injury, so the Rays are bringing him back stateside to evaluate the seriousness of the injury. He hit .350/.435/.500 with a homer and a stolen base through the first five games. If Franco is fully healthy this spring, he could put himself in position for a first-half call-up, but if this injury turns out to be serious, that could delay his arrival in 2021.
Nov 25 2020Franco hasn't played in the Dominican Winter League since Friday due to an arm injury, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 19-year-old was hitting well with a .935 OPS through five games before suffering the injury. The specifics of the issue remain unclear, but the organization is likely exercise plenty of caution with Franco this offseason due to his status as one of the top prospects in baseball.
Aug 19 2020Franco continues to work out regularly at the Rays' alternate training site in Port Charlotte, but he's unlikely to receive a promotion to the big club at any point in 2020, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 2020 Super Two deadline has come and gone, but the extra year of service time the Rays have already gained won't be enough to entice the organization to call up its top prospect. Instead, the Rays appear inclined to treat this season as another development one for the 19-year-old phenom, who will at least have the benefit of playing in simulated games against some of the team's top pitching prospects in Port Charlotte. Assuming he stays healthy and continues to pass any tests the organization's braintrust gives him, Franco looks on track to make his MLB debut at some point in early 2021.
Jun 25 2020Franco is expected to be part of the Rays' 60-man player pool that will report to the team's summer camp, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The prize prospect's expected inclusion means he's expected to report to Port Charlotte, one of the two sites the Rays will use for their summer camp. The 19-year-old will therefore have a chance to continue his development despite the expected absence of a 2020 minor-league season, with the opportunity to play against big-league talent in intrasquad games expected to be one of the biggest benefits of the move. That also leaves open the admittedly remote possibility Franco shows enough to earn a spot on the active roster at some point during the 60-game campaign, although the Rays continue to prioritize his continuing education as a player above all else. "We're not going to force anything. We're not going to throw any additional expectations on him," Rays general manager Erik Neander said in February. "We just want to make sure that we do right by him, progress him in all aspects of his development as best as we can, and prepare him for one day being a Major League player."
Apr 26 2020Franco's chances of making his big-league debut during the 2020 season will likely be dampened if there is no minor-league season, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The elite prospect's chances of seeing big-league action in 2020 even if the season would have unfolded as planned may have been relatively remote, considering he's yet to take an at-bat above the High-A level. Despite the fact Franco is unquestionably on the fast track to the majors, the Rays would ideally like to get him more seasoning, leading Toribio to surmise an outright cancellation of the minor-league season would further depress the odds of the 19-year-old making his debut in a truncated year. However, he adds the disclaimer that the organization's view could change if the Rays find themselves in contention and conclude that Franco -- whose stellar .318/.390/.506 line at Low-A Bowling Green last season qualifies as the least impressive overall of his three professional stops to date -- could significantly improve the team's offensive firepower.
Feb 26 2020Manager Kevin Cash said that Franco will join the Rays for Thursday's split-squad game against the Tigers, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 18-year-old phenom is scheduled to substitute in for Willy Adames at shortstop midway through Thursday's contest before making the trip with the big club to West Palm Beach, Fla. for Friday's game against the Nationals. Franco's exposure to big-league camp at this stage of his development speaks to his elite talent, and the Rays remain open to the possibility of the switch-hitting infielder making his MLB debut at some point in 2020 if his performance warrants it. After torching the competition in stops at Low-A Bowling Green and High-A Charlotte last season, Franco could report to Double-A Montgomery to begin the campaign.
Feb 12 2020Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Erik Neander said "we want Wander to be in our plans this year" during the team's Fan Fest last weekend, Mari Faiello of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is going to be a common topic for the Rays this spring and throughout the season, and the team's brass is not shying away from the notion that the game's top prospect could debut in his age-19 season. He walked almost twice as much as he struck out while slashing .339/.408/.464 at High-A as an 18-year-old, so he could make quick work of Double-A and Triple-A pitching. If Tampa is really serious about fast-tracking him, he could even skip one of those levels on his path to the majors. Given Willy Adames' defensive prowess at shortstop, Franco will likely debut at the keystone.
Jun 23 2019Franco was promoted from Low-A Bowling Green to High-A Charlotte on Sunday, Robert Murray of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2018Franco appeared in three games for rookie-level Princeton over the weekend, going a collective 7-for-14 with two home runs, nine RBI and four runs.Franco did the brunt of his damage Saturday, banging out five hits -- including both of the home runs -- to complete a cycle in Princeton's 13-1 win over Pulaski. At just 17 years old, the switch-hitting Franco already looks like one of the top prospects in the Rays organization. He's likely to offer plus-power production as he matriculates through the farm system, though a move off shortstop to second base may ultimately be necessary.