WANDER FRANCO NEWS

Records 19th theft Franco went 1-for-4 with a stolen base Monday in a loss to the Cubs.

Impact 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 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Triple, two steals in win Franco went 1-for-2 with a triple, two runs scored and two steals in Thursday's 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

Impact Franco ripped a one-out triple in the first inning before scoring the game's first run on a Randy Arozarena base hit. The 22-year-old Franco would later draw a pair of walks and tallied two of the Rays' seven stolen bases in the contest. Franco finished the four-game set against Toronto 6-for-14 with two triples and three stolen bases. He's slashing a stellar .288/.355/.490 with seven home runs, 25 RBI and 30 runs scored while going 17-for-22 in stolen base attempts.

MAY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Busy offensive day in win Franco went 3-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, one run scored and one steal in Wednesday's 7-3 victory over the Blue Jays.

Impact Franco singled in his first at-bat and scored the first run of the game on an RBI knock by Isaac Paredes. The shortstop walked his next time up and proceeded to steal second but was stranded to end the second inning. He added run-scoring singles in the fourth and eighth to extend Tampa Bay's lead, marking his fifth game with at least three hits this season. Franco has been as advertised to start 2023, slashing .286/.347/.480 with seven home runs, 25 RBI, 28 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.

MAY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Thursday's lineup Franco is absent from the Rays' lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs two steals Wednesday Franco went 0-for-3 with a pair of walks and thefts in Wednesday's extra-inning loss to the Mets.

Impact 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, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Strikes out twice Friday Franco went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts Friday against the Yankees.

Impact 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 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

In Friday's lineup Franco (neck) is in the Rays' lineup for Friday's game versus the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Franco was forced from Thursday's game with neck spasms, but he's feeling well enough a day later to be back in action. The youngster is playing shortstop and batting second against Gerrit Cole.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

MLB's (early) five most valuable players of 2023

Ben Verlander ranks MLB's five most valuable players through six weeks of the season.

MAY 12, 2023

Hopes to play Friday Franco (neck) hopes to play Friday against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Nabs 12th steal Franco went 2-for-3 with one steal in Thursday's 8-2 win over the Yankees.

Impact Franco started off strong with both hits and a steal in the first three innings. Unfortunately no one was on base and no one drove Franco home. The shortstop is having a career year with 12 stolen bases and seven homers. Ronald Acuna is the only other player with those numbers in 2023.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with neck spasms Franco exited Thursday's game against the Yankees with neck spasms and tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Franco was removed in the fifth inning after appearing uncomfortable during an at-bat. He'll be re-evaluated Friday, but there's no further detail for the time being. If Franco is forced to miss additional time, Isaac Paredes is a potential playing time winner.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits Thursday's game Franco exited Thursday's game against the Yankees with an apparent neck injury, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Franco exited in the fifth inning after appearing uncomfortable during an at-bat. There are no further details regarding the issue or the potential severity. Isaac Paredes entered the game in Franco's place to play third base, while Taylor Walls shifted to shortstop.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Two steals in loss Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and two steals in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Orioles.

Impact Franco swiped a bag both times he reached base and is now up to 11 on the year, which is tied for sixth best in baseball. The 22-year-old seems to have added base stealing to his repertoire after combining for only 10 steals across 153 games in his past two seasons combined. Franco has now hit safely in six straight games and is now slashing .310/.369/.552 with seven homers, 23 RBI, 23 runs and a 12:24 BB:K over 160 plate appearances.

MAY 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homer, steal in loss Franco went 2-for-5 with a home run and a stolen base in Tuesday's loss against the Orioles.

Impact 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 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Staying aggressive on basepaths Franco went 1-for-5 with a stolen base Sunday against the Yankees.

Impact 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 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wander Franco makes baseball fun. The criticism he's receiving is undeserved

While many baseball aficionados were displeased by Wander Franco showboating on a defensive play, Ben Verlander firmly believes plays like t...

MAY 5, 2023

Rays' Wander Franco invents 'ball flip' on defense, hits home run on offense Tampa Bay SS Wander Franco puts his own unique spin on a routine ground ball in win over Pirates, then follows it up with a home run minutes...

MAY 4, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Swipes seventh bag Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a stolen base Tuesday against the Pirates.

Impact 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.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Gets breather against White Sox Franco is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact 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.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ignites comeback Franco went 2-for-4 with one homer, three RBI, two runs scored and one steal in Saturday's win over the White Sox.

Impact 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.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Dazzles against Astros Franco went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 8-3 win over Houston.

Impact The 22-year-old shortstop didn't just dominate offensively either, as he made an incredible barehanded catch on a dead sprint into foul territory that required him to cover 96 feet in a little over five seconds. Franco is emerging as a superstar in 2023, slashing .318/.388/.580 through 22 games with four homers, five steals, 13 runs and 14 RBI, and the only thing standing between him and a potential 30-30 campaign could be his ability to stay healthy.

APRIL 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wander makes a barehand catch you have to see to believe Wander Franco did his best Kevin Mitchell and David Wright impersonation on Monday night, ranging all the way into foul territory in left fi...

APRIL 25, 2023 • MLB.COM

Swipes bag Sunday Franco went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 4-1 win over the White Sox.

Impact Franco got on base twice, both in the second and eighth innings and stole second for his fourth steal on the year. The 22-year-old has been a steady producer in the early going, slashing .289/.366/.542 with four homers, 13 RBI, 11 runs scored and an 8:15 BB:K over 93 plate appearances.

APRIL 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE