Wander Franco

Wander Franco

23-Year-Old ShortstopSS
Tampa Bay Rays
Out
Injury Personal
Est. Return 6/1/2025
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Franco had an excellent season on the field blossoming into the five-tool player everyone expected him to be in his third season at the big league level hitting for power and average while also being a force on the bases and even in the field. That all came to a screeching halt in mid-August as news broke that the 22 year old was reportedly in a relationship with a minor. Franco was placed on administrative leave and never returned outside of a procedural move in the winter while MLB continues to investigate the situation. The last thing we want to do is trivialize the seriousness of this matter. Franco would be a first round pick without his self-sabotaging efforts but he could also find himself suspended if not incarcerated for some time pending the outcome of this investigation. Currently, he seemingly has better odds of playing for a Japanese team in 2024 than he does with the Rays. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
Rest of Season
From Preseason
#365
ADP
$Signed an 11-year, $180.71 million contract extension with the Rays in November of 2021. Contract includes $25 million team option ($2 million buyout) for 2033.
Goes on restricted list
SSTampa Bay Rays
Personal
July 10, 2024
The Rays will place Franco (personal) on the restricted list Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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.
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Batting Stats
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2024
2023
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Left/Right Batting Splits
Since 2022
 
 
+13%
OPS vs LHP
2024
No Stats
2023
 
 
+17%
OPS vs LHP
2022
 
 
+7%
OPS vs LHP
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2022vs Left .867 166 24 5 22 11 .316 .367 .500
Since 2022vs Right .769 669 87 18 69 27 .270 .330 .439
2024vs Left 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024vs Right 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023vs Left .930 95 16 3 13 10 .325 .400 .530
2023vs Right .793 396 49 14 45 20 .270 .331 .462
2022vs Left .788 71 8 2 9 1 .304 .324 .464
2022vs Right .734 273 38 4 24 7 .269 .330 .404
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Home/Away Batting Splits
Since 2022
 
 
+1%
OPS on Road
2024
No Stats
2023
 
 
+6%
OPS at Home
2022
 
 
+13%
OPS on Road
OPS PA R HR RBI SB AVG OBP SLG
Since 2022Home .784 424 59 13 53 19 .269 .321 .464
Since 2022Away .793 411 52 10 38 19 .289 .355 .438
2024Home 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2024Away 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023Home .841 258 38 10 36 15 .282 .341 .500
2023Away .795 233 27 7 22 15 .279 .348 .447
2022Home .697 166 21 3 17 4 .250 .289 .408
2022Away .791 178 25 3 16 4 .302 .365 .426
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Prospect Rankings History
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
The Rays bet big on Franco last winter in the form of an 11-year, $182 million contract extension. This was after just 70 games at the big-league level for Franco, so it's clear Tampa Bay, a notoriously "frugal" franchise, is head over heels as are most evaluators. His 2022 season did not go as planned as Franco battled a quadriceps injury before undergoing surgery in July to repair a fractured hamate bone. While his numbers in 83 games leave something to be desired, Franco continued to display excellent contact skills, with Statcast putting him in the top 4% of the league in terms of xBA. He was also a perfect 8-for-8 on the basepaths. The switch hitter returned to play in 25 regular-season games down the stretch, slashing .322/.381/.471. In time, Franco could prove to be a better-in-real-life-than-fantasy sort of player, but beware of any definitive labels put on this all-world talent as they could look silly a year or two from now.
The 2021-22 offseason was full of surprise signings before the lockout, with Franco's 11-year guaranteed deal at the top of the list. Everyone has been conditioned to envision the Rays either signing players through their arb years, or playing the player until he is 2-3 years shy of free agency and then trading him for max value. In this case, Franco's rookie season was so amazing, not only did he get strong consideration for the Rookie of the Year Award with only 70 games played, he also received a financial commitment from a team that has cried poor for its entire history. Franco quickly showed an ability to look like a 10-year vet at the plate, and mistakes at the plate and on the bases were rarely repeated. His hype and contract will likely push his 2022 fantasy acquisition cost to ridiculous levels, but he is an extremely high-floor player. Franco will play every day high in the lineup and produce double-digit homers and steals while pushing for 100 runs with a high average.
Like most top prospects, Franco spent the summer at his team's alternate training site, but unlike most prospects, he was on the postseason taxi squad and got work in on the field prior to World Series games. His bat speed and contact ability remain elite, but he needs to lift the ball more to maximize his power output. Franco may no longer be a plus runner, but he should still be on base enough to steal double-digit bases. Shoulder inflammation cut short his winter ball season, and while the team says there is no structural damage, it's something to monitor this spring. If there is an MiLB season, he would open the year in the minors and could receive a first-half promotion to the majors. Franco (a switch hitter) won't be platooned, but the Rays generally love platoons and like moving players around, so it's possible he could gain eligibility at some combination of third base, second base and shortstop.
Franco's only imperfection as a prospect is that he is not yet in the majors. He does not turn 19 until March, yet he has already mastered the Appalachian League, Midwest League and Florida State League. The switch hitter has an extremely rare combination of elite bat speed and an elite approach (54:83 K:BB in 175 games), which will allow him to hit for a very high average with monster power in his peak seasons. He is also a plus runner, but he is still learning how to steal bases efficiently (56.4% success rate on 39 attempts). Even as the clear top signee from the 2017 July 2 international signing class, Franco has exceeded expectations every step of the way, which makes setting expectations for his third pro season something of a challenge. With the Rays in a contention cycle, it would be foolish to just assume Franco will spend another full season in the minors, but early 2021 is his most likely ETA.
Franco won’t turn 18 until March 1, but already looks the part of a future superstar. A switch-hitting shortstop who may end up at third or second, Franco has the quickest bat in the minors. He made consistent, hard contact throughout his pro debut in the Appy League, finishing top five in ISO (.239), wRC+ (159) and BB/K (1.42) as the league’s youngest hitter. Franco was the clear top prospect in the 2017 July 2 international signing class -- pedigree that topples that of the typical player in that league. But consider this: Vlad Jr. toured the Appy League as a 17-year-old two years ago and tallied a .178 ISO, 122 wRC+ and 0.94 BB/K. Simply put, Franco is a significantly better hitter than the top prospect in baseball was at the same age. The Rays rarely fast track prospects, but Franco should be the exception. His MLB ETA is difficult to peg, as he has yet to make his full-season debut, but he will be ready for big-league pitching before he turns 20.
Prior to Franco in 2017, here are the last five consensus top prospects from the July 2 international signing period: Kevin Maitan, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Adrian Rondon, Eloy Jimenez and Franklin Barreto. Rondon looks like a bust and it’s too early to say what Maitan will be. Barreto is a big-league ready top-50 prospect with some upside and some flaws, while Guerrero and Jimenez are easily top-five prospects in the game. Investing in players who have yet to play a professional game, like Franco, is awfully risky, but recent history suggests it’s a risk worth taking if the price is right. Franco is a 5-foot-10 switch-hitting shortstop who turns 17 in March and is expected to eventually move to second base. He was considered the best hitter in this year’s class, with the potential to hit for a high average and offer 20-plus homer pop. The payoff will be at least four years down the road, but the upside is such that Franco should be stashed now in deeper leagues.
More Fantasy News
Formally charged
SSTampa Bay Rays
Personal
July 9, 2024
Franco was formally charged Tuesday in the Dominican Republic with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com.do reports.
ANALYSIS
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Administrative leave extended
SSTampa Bay Rays
Personal
May 30, 2024
Major 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.
ANALYSIS
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Placed on administrative leave
SSTampa Bay Rays
Personal
March 28, 2024
Franco 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.
ANALYSIS
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Expected to be moved off roster
SSTampa Bay Rays
Personal
March 21, 2024
Franco 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.
ANALYSIS
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Facing lesser charge
SSTampa Bay Rays
Personal
January 9, 2024
Franco was released from a Dominican Republic jail Monday and is facing a lesser charge after a judge analyzed evidence that Franco had an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for her consent, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Might play winter ball
SSTampa Bay Rays
October 9, 2023
Franco has had discussions with Leones del Escogido about playing in the Dominican winter league, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
ANALYSIS
Franco is currently on administrative leave while being investigated by Major League Baseball and authorities in the Dominican Republic regarding his alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. While there's no word on when those investigations might be resolved, Franco's status with MLB does not prohibit him from playing winter ball. Franco currently remains in the United States and it's unclear at this point whether he will be on Escogido's roster when they begin their season on Oct. 19.
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