Wander Franco - Page 18 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Records three hits Franco went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's win over Cleveland.

Impact 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.

JULY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Day off Monday Franco will sit Monday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs game-tying homer Franco went 1-for-3 with a game-tying solo home run and a walk in a win over Atlanta on Sunday. He was also caught stealing on his only attempt.

Impact The rookie's 418-foot blast in the sixth inning knotted the game up at 3-3 and ignited what would be a five-run surge for the Rays over the sixth and seventh frames. Franco has gotten good wood on the ball in the early stages of the second half of the season, as he also laced his first major-league triple in Friday's series opener.

JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Franco makes first appearance at second ATLANTA -- Not quite a month into his Major League career, top prospect Wander Franco is still checking off career firsts. On Friday night,...

JULY 18, 2021 • MLB.COM

Starts second half strong Franco went 2-for-6 with a triple and two runs in an extra-inning win over the Braves on Friday.

Impact 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.

JULY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Next week in fantasy baseball: Wander Franco, Josh Bell among hitters who could get off to a fast second-half start Al Melchior puts the uncertain first week post-break into focus for fantasy baseball managers, with Rays bats getting a strong endorsement.

JULY 16, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Average dips below Mendoza Line Franco 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.

Impact 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.

JULY 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On bench Saturday Franco is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat for matinee Franco isn't starting the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Slugs second homer Franco went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in a win over the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Impact 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.

JULY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notes: Franco adjusting; two head to Tokyo BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Wander Franco said he has learned a lot during his first week and a half as a Major League player, with the most helpful pi...

JULY 3, 2021 • MLB.COM

Wander Franco is Ben Verlander's 6-Tool Player of the Week ' Flippin' Bats

JUNE 29, 2021 • Fox Sports

On base twice in loss Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run in a loss to the Angels on Sunday.

Impact 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.

JUNE 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

MLB Weekly Roundup: No. 1 prospect Wander Franco bursts on the scene for the Rays

Wander Franco's highly anticipated debut was the highlight of a week filled with baseball drama, Ben Verlander writes.

JUNE 28, 2021

MLB Weekly Roundup: No. 1 prospect Wander Franco bursts on the scene for the Rays

'No concern' over Franco's hitless stretch ST. PETERSBURG -- No, the Rays aren’t worried about a few hitless games from Wander Franco. Franco, baseball’s top prospect, made a big spla...

JUNE 27, 2021 • MLB.COM

LEADING OFF: Rays rookie Franco slumping, Harper plunked

Wander Franco got off to a smashing start this week, hitting a home run and double in his major league debut for Tampa Bay

JUNE 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wander Franco's first week and waiting for the next wave of call-ups The most intriguing part of Wander Franco's fantasy profile has always been his elite strikeout rate.

JUNE 26, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

The Astros' absurd offense; Javier Báez heads to the bench; Enter Wander Franco: It's Joe's Week in Baseball Plus plenty on that wild Phillies-Nationals series, ANOTHER no-hitter and Kyle Schwarber's bat in this week's recap.

JUNE 25, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Wander gets props from Tatis, Vlad Jr., Acuña ST. PETERSBURG -- A day after his highly anticipated and memorable Major League debut, Wander Franco said he couldn’t nail down the number o...

JUNE 24, 2021 • MLB.COM

Pipeline Inbox: Vidal up soon? Now that Wander Franco has made his big league debut, we can stop talking about the No. 1 prospect, right? Just kidding, even if we are peek...

JUNE 23, 2021 • MLB.COM

Who could follow Wander in next Rays wave? ST. PETERSBURG -- Wander Franco has arrived. On Tuesday night, baseball’s best prospect became a big leaguer with a dazzling debut that show...

JUNE 23, 2021 • MLB.COM

VIDEO: Wander Franco's Dad Has Priceless Reaction to First MLB Home Run Tampa Bay Rays SS/3B Wander Franco's dad has a priceless reaction to his son's first MLB home run.

JUNE 23, 2021 • FANDUEL.COM

Rays' Wander Franco Instantly Convinced Pedro Martinez He's Real Deal Red Sox legend Pedro Martinez endorsed Rays phenom Wander Franco as the "complete package," following his MLB debut.

JUNE 23, 2021 • NESN.COM

Wander Franco: MLB's top prospect homers in debut vs. Red Sox It might have come in a loss, but star prospect Wander Franco produced a smashing debut for the Tampa Bay Rays. The young third baseman home...

JUNE 23, 2021 • UPI.COM

Makes noise in MLB debut Franco 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.

Impact 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.

JUNE 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

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Wander Franco is Ben Verlander's 6-Tool Player of the Week ' Flippin' Bats

MLB Weekly Roundup: No. 1 prospect Wander Franco bursts on the scene for the Rays

LEADING OFF: Rays rookie Franco slumping, Harper plunked