Wander Franco - Page 6 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Showcases versatility Franco went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and one steal in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Philadelphia.

Impact 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.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco, Kyle Tucker among those added to All-Star Game Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco and Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker will be among those filling in at next week’s All-Star Game...

JULY 5, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Rays star Franco added to All-Star team ST. PETERSBURG -- Turns out, there was room for Wander Franco in the All-Star Game. After being left off the initial American League All-Sta...

JULY 5, 2023 • MLB.COM

Franco, Carroll, Ryan on track to receive most from $50 million bonus pool

Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco is on track to receive the largest amount from this year’s $50 million pre-arbitration bonus pool based on his regular-season statistics

JUNE 30, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tallies steal in win Franco went 0-for-3 with a walk and a steal in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Royals.

Impact 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.

JUNE 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in return Franco went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI on Saturday against the Royals.

Impact 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.

JUNE 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Franco back in Rays lineup after benching PETERSBURG -- Rays shortstop Wander Franco returned to the lineup on Saturday after being benched for two games. Franco was slated to bat se...

JUNE 24, 2023 • MLB.COM

Returns to lineup Franco is hitting second and starting at shortstop in Saturday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Franco was held out of the lineup Thursday and Friday in a disciplinary move by the Rays. He'll retake his typical role in the order, while Isaac Paredes will be forced to the bench.

JUNE 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

John Romano: A teachable moment for Rays' Wander Franco, if he chooses to view it that way ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Let’s be clear about what’s going on here:

JUNE 23, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

John Romano: A teachable moment for Rays' Wander Franco, if he chooses to view it that way ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Let’s be clear about what’s going on here:

JUNE 23, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM

Rays bench Wander Franco for multiple games ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been benched for at least two games for disciplinary reasons. Franco was not in the lineu...

JUNE 22, 2023 • MLB.COM

Benched through at least Friday Franco will sit Thursday and at least Friday as well due to the way he handles his frustrations and for not being a better teammate, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Per Topkin's report, manager Kevin Cash said Franco "is a good kid" and the team hopes to work with him to improve. 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 Thursday.

JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in lineup Franco isn't in the Rays' lineup Thursday against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Slashing just .192/.246/.269 over the past two weeks, Franco will get a day off Thursday to regroup. Taylor Walls will step in as Tampa Bay's shortstop, allowing Vidal Brujan to start at second and bat ninth.

JUNE 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Steals in consecutive games Franco went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Padres.

Impact 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.

JUNE 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Monday Franco isn't in the Rays' lineup for Monday's game against Oakland.

Impact 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.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ends homer drought Franco went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Rangers.

Impact 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.

JUNE 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

First stolen base since return Franco went 0-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base Thursday against the Twins.

Impact 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 May 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.

JUNE 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Two hits in return Franco went 2-for-4 with a double in Monday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Impact 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.

JUNE 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Monday Franco (hamstring) is back in the lineup for Monday's contest in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The Rays lost Brandon Lowe (back) to the injured list Monday, but there's good news with the other half of their double-play combo with Franco returning to action. He missed a couple games with a hamstring issue. Franco is batting second and playing shortstop against Brayan Bello.

JUNE 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Sunday's lineup Franco (hamstring) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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. The severity of the injury has yet to be disclosed, so it's unclear if Franco is expected to miss much time. Taylor Walls will make another start at shortstop Sunday for Tampa Bay.

JUNE 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with hamstring issue Franco 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.

Impact Franco returned from a minor shoulder injury in the afternoon contest and looked healthy, grabbing three hits and scoring a pair of runs. 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.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in action Franco (shoulder) will return to the lineup for the first half of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees, batting second and playing shortstop, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Ti...

Impact Franco hadn't played since Tuesday due to a minor left shoulder injury. He was set to return Friday but had to wait one more day after that game got rained out. It's possible the Rays won't ask him to start twice in one day immediately after his return, but he'll be taking part in at least one contest, squaring off against Garrett Whitlock.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Friday Franco (shoulder) is back in the lineup Friday against the Red Sox.

Impact 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 for Tampa Bay.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tending to left shoulder injury Rays 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 Topk...

Impact 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 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resting in series finale Franco is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact With an off day coming Thursday, Rays manager Kevin Cash likely viewed Wednesday's day game as an optimal time to rest Franco, who had started in each of the last 12 games. Taylor Walls will spell Franco at shortstop in the series finale after Franco extended his hitting streak to seven and also chipped in his 20th stolen base of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 loss.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Franco, Carroll, Ryan on track to receive most from $50 million bonus pool