The latest news on Wander Franco
Keeping tabs on the No. 1 prospect in the game
June 27: Snaps hitless drought
Wander Franco went 1-for-3 with a base on balls and a run scored Sunday afternoon, returning to the hit column for the first time since he made his electric MLB debut on June 22. All three of Franco's MLB hits thus far have come against left-handed pitchers.
Rays manager Kevin Cash gave Franco a vote of confidence following Sunday's matinee, saying if ¡°he keeps hitting balls hard like that, they¡¯re going to find holes." More >
June 26: Hitless drought continues despite walk
Despite a productive game from Tampa Bay's bats, Wander Franco remained out of the hit column with an 0-for-4 day at the dish. He also committed his first error as a Major League player and worked a bases-loaded walk for his fourth RBI in just five games with the Rays. Tampa's top prospect is now hitting just .105 (2-for-19) with both of hits coming in his debut earlier this week. Gameday ?
June 25: Hitless again in win
Wander Franco is still trying to find his swing at the Major League level, as baseball's No. 1 overall prospect went hitless for a third game in a row Friday against the Angels. Franco went 0-for-4 on the night, but still managed to score a run though after he reached on an error in the first inning. He is now hitting .133 through his first four games with the big league club. Gameday ?
June 24: Strikes out three times in hitless night
Nick Pivetta and the rest of the Red Sox pitching staff gave Wander Franco a rude "Welcome to the Big Leagues" moment, as Franco went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the Rays' win over Boston. It wasn't just Franco who struggled though, as the Sox combined for 7 1/3 hitless innings and limited Tampa Bay to just two hits. Gameday ?
June 23: Walks twice and scores in win
While it wasn't quite as explosive as his Tuesday night debut, Wander Franco still had a decent day, experiencing his first big league victory. While he went 0-for-3 at the plate, Wander still reached base twice via walk and scored once. He started at his natural position of shortstop for the first time after playing third base in his debut. Gameday ?
June 22: First MLB hit is game-tying three-run homer
Wander Franco could not have asked for a more perfect debut, as baseball's No. 1 overall prospect smashed a clutch three-run home run for his first MLB hit. Wander went on to add another extra-base hit in the form of a double in the seventh and ended the game 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. He became the youngest player since Jurickson Profar in 2012 with multiple extra-base hits in their debut. More ?
June 20: The time has come -- Wander is joining the Rays
On Sunday night, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that Wander Franco is expected to be promoted to the Major Leagues in time for Tuesday's home game versus the Red Sox. The No. 1 prospect in baseball, Franco boasts an impressive slash line of .315/.367/.586 through 162 at-bats at Triple-A Durham this season. He went 0-for-4 on Sunday, but that's not the big news on this day. More ?
June 19: Helps lead charge in offensive explosion
After his 14-game hit streak was snapped on Friday night, Wander Franco decided to try and start another. The No. 1 overall prospect went 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI single and two runs scored as Triple-A Durham hung nine runs on Norfolk. He now has 35 RBIs in 38 games this season, leading the Triple-A East. It was also his third two-hit game in the past four. Franco is now hitting .323 on the year and at the pace he's hitting, he may be expecting a call to the big leagues in the near future. Gameday ?
June 18: Streak ends in hitless game
Wander Franco's 14-game hit streak came to an end Friday night, as he went 0-for-4 in Triple-A Durham's 4-3 win. Franco reached on an error and scored a run in the game, but he failed to record a hit for the first time in June. The Bulls had only six hits on the night, but the biggest came off the bat of Daulton Kelly in the form of a pinch-hit grand slam. Gameday ?
June 17: Drives in two and steals a bag in day game
No matter the time of day, Wander Franco is still going to rake. Wander had himself yet another multihit performance Thursday afternoon, going 2-for-5 in Triple-A Durham's 10-6 loss. The No. 1 overall prospect drove in two runs on a single through the right side in the seventh, his 33rd and 34th RBIs on the season, and swiped his fifth stolen base of the year in the third. He now has a 14-game hit streak going and has recorded a hit in every game in the month of June. Gameday ?
June 16: Triples twice to extend hitting streak
The number of the day for Wander Franco Wednesday was three, as baseball's No. 1 overall prospect legged out two three-baggers and reached base three times for Triple-A Durham. Franco went 2-for-4 on the day with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. His two triples were the second and third he's recorded over the last two days. His hitting streak now sits at 13 games and he is hitting a blistering .326 with a 1.002 OPS. More ?
June 15: Homer shy of cycle in three-hit game
Wander Franco extended his hitting streak to 12 games with his fifth game of three or more hits this season. The 20-year-old fell a homer short of the cycle, smacking his 11th double of the season in the first inning, singling in the third and legging out his third triple in the sixth. He scored the only run in Triple-A Durham's 4-1 loss to Norfolk. The two extra-base hits increased his total to 21 in 34 games, tied for fourth most in the Minors. Franco ended May hitting .272 with an .851 OPS, but he's taken his game to another level in June. The Dominican Republic native is batting .417/.451/.750 with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBIs while hitting safely in all 12 games this month. Overall, Franco has hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games to bring his slash line up to .321/.377/.593. The switch-hitter has scored 34 runs and totaled 34 RBIs, 21 coming since May 23. Gameday ?
June 13: Singles in quiet game
Wander Franco could only muster one hit Sunday, but it was good enough to extend his hit streak to 11 games. Franco went 1-for-4 for Triple-A Durham as the Bulls lost, 1-0, to Charlotte. To be fair to Wander, he was one of two Bulls hitters to record a hit on the day, as the Knights' pitching staff combined for a two-hit shutout. Gameday ?
June 12: Singles to extend hit streak
Despite an offensive barrage from Triple-A Durham, Wander Franco didn't make too much noise, going 1-for-5 on the night with a single and a strikeout. Wander extended his hitting streak to double digits and has recorded a hit in every game in the month of June. The Bulls beat Charlotte 11-0 as Nathan Lukes hit two homers. Gameday ?
June 11: Hits pinch-hit RBI double in loss
There is no such thing as a day off for Wander Franco. The No. 1 overall prospect entered the game in the seventh inning and promptly sent an RBI double down the third-base line. Franco now has a nine-game hitting streak and is hitting .312 on the year. His OPS sits at .966 on the year. Triple-A Durham could not overcome a one-run deficit in the ninth, though, as the Bulls lost, 5-4, to Charlotte. Gameday ?
June 10: Hits seventh homer of the year
Another day, another homer for Wander Franco. The No. 1 overall prospect went yard for the second time in as many days, slapping a game-tying solo shot for Triple-A Durham in the sixth inning. Not only has Franco homered in back-to-back games, but he's done it from each side of the plate, going yard from the left side on Wednesday and from the right side Thursday. Franco went 1-for-3 with a walk on the night as Durham downed Charlotte in comeback fashion on a walk-off pinch-hit home run by Rays' No. 11 prospect Josh Lowe. The homer and walk lifted his OPS to .958 and also marked his 30th RBI in 30 games this season. Gameday ?
June 9: Sends one out to center field
Wander Franco recorded only one hit on Wednesday, but it was a loud one. The 20-year-old took an offspeed pitch out to center field for a two-run shot in a 10-5 victory for Triple-A Durham. It was the sixth homer of the year for the No. 1 prospect in baseball. Franco has recorded a hit in 12 of his past 13 games, raising his average from .269 to .311 during that span. Gameday ?
? WANDER HOMER ? pic.twitter.com/tAWIDdiq3t
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 10, 2021
June 8: Showcases speed on RBI single
On Tuesday, Wander Franco picked up another hit -- his 12th in six games this month -- and he showed why he's considered an above-average runner to go along with his special skills as a hitter. With a man on third and no outs, Franco chopped a ball to third base. The throw was much too high, but Franco, speeding down the first-base line, might have beaten it out even if it was on target. As the throw sailed to the fence along the right-field line, Franco raced to second. He would score later in the inning, part of a seven-run fourth for Triple-A Durham. The top prospect in baseball is 12-for-26 with nine RBIs in June and has a six-game hitting streak. Gameday ?
Wander Franco puts his wheels on display with this game-tying single to third for the @DurhamBulls. pic.twitter.com/P8nZgkZEag
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) June 8, 2021
June 6: Two more hits in victory
Wander Franco is hitting .383 over his past 12 games after collecting two more hits Sunday in a 4-3 win for Triple-A Durham. Both hits were singles, which marks the first time in five games that Franco didn't record an extra-base hit. Overall, the 20-year-old owns a .313/.365/.557 slash line for the Bulls. Gameday ?
June 5: Stand-up RBI double highlights night
After a postponement Friday night, Wander Franco came out swinging for Triple-A Durham, smacking an RBI double in the Bulls' 4-0 win. All in all though, it was a fairly quiet game for Wander, as baseball's No. 1 overall prospect went 1-for-5 at the plate with a strikeout. Durham's pitching made sure Wander's first-inning RBI was the winning one though, as they combined to allow just one hit against Norfolk. Gameday ?
June 3: Records RBI double
Franco scorched an RBI double down the first base line for his lone hit of the night. Franco has now driven in a run in three straight games and has 25 RBIs in 25 Triple-A games this season. He is hitting .571 (8-for-14) with three extra-base hits and seven RBIs through three games this month. Gameday ?
June 2: Slaps three-run homer in three-hit game
Another day, another multihit game for Wander Franco, this time a three-hit performance for baseball's No. 1 overall prospect in Triple-A Durham's 11-2 romp of Norfolk. The highlight of Franco's day came in the form of a three-run homer in the fourth, which made it a 8-2 ballgame. He knew he got all of it and gave his fifth long ball of the year a good stare prior to rounding the bases.
The Rays prospect went 3-for-5 on the night with two singles and two runs scored to go along with his homer. Franco is now 7-for-10 over his past two games and brought his batting average back over .300 to .314. Gameday ?
June 1: Drives in three in four-hit game
While his hitting streak might have been snapped in his last game, Wander Franco bounced back nicely with three RBIs in a multihit game. He went 4-for-5 with a double, two singles and a run scored for Triple-A Durham in their 6-5 loss to Norfolk. Franco kept the Bulls in the game, as his ninth-inning two-RBI single brought them to within one before Josh Lowe struck out to end the game. Franco's batting average rose to .299 with the performance. More ?