Magic Wander: Rays’ Franco, 20, dazzles in debut

<div></div> <div class="article-meta"> <span class="timestamp" data-behavior="date_time" data-date="2021-06-23T02:57:00Z"><span class="time" data-dateformat="time1" data-showtimezone="true">10:57 PM ET</span></span></p> <ul class="authors"> <li> <p><span>ESPN News Services </span></p> </li> </ul> </div> <p>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It didn’t take long for <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/40929/wander-franco">Wander Franco</a> to display the many skills that scouts have been raving about. The kind of skills that made him the No. 1 overall prospect in Major League Baseball. The kind of skills that the <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/tb/tampa-bay-rays">Tampa Bay Rays</a> hope to see a lot more of.</p> <p>It’s only one game, of course, but it sure seems like the sky is the limit.</p> <p>In his major league debut, Franco, 20, started at third base, doubled, homered, drove in three runs and showed a flair for the dramatic with a curtain call in Tampa Bay’s 9-5, 11-inning loss to the <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-sox">Boston Red Sox</a> on Tuesday.</p> <p>Franco, who walked in his first major-league plate appearance in the first inning, tied the game at 5 in the fifth with a 362-foot homer that drove in <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31446/kevin-kiermaier">Kevin Kiermaier</a> and <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33481/yandy-diaz">Yandy Diaz</a>. He showed confidence — and some swagger — on the base paths and electrified the crowd at Tropicana Field.</p> <p>His debut, however, wasn’t enough to provide the right elixir for a struggling Rays team that has now lost seven in a row, a streak which saw Tampa Bay lose hold on first place in the American League East. He generated a buzz throughout the ballpark each time he walked up to the plate, and gave all of baseball a snapshot of his overall game. But in the end, the Red Sox spoiled the party.</p> <p>Called up from Triple-A earlier in the day, Franco raised his right arm as he neared the plate and lifted both arms while crossing the plate to a roaring crowd in the fifth. He even drew a nice ovation when he went on the field to run pregame, and got a partial standing ovation when the Rays’ lineup was announced over the public-address system.</p> <aside class="inline editorial float-r" data-behavior="article_related"> <p>2 Related</p> </aside> <p>“It’s still hard to believe,” Franco said through an interpreter before the game about his promotion. “I feel ready. I’ve waited a long time for this moment. I feel really good about it.”</p> <p>Franco hit .315 with seven homers and 35 RBIs in 39 games this season at Triple-A Durham.</p> <p>“I want to give 100 percent of what I’ve got and just continue with the work I’ve been doing in hopes that it turns me into a superstar,” Franco said.</p> <p>Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco will also get playing at time at shortstop and second base.</p> <p>“I think he’s kind of shown everybody he’s ready,” Cash said. “Conquered every level. In fairness, forced our hand.”</p> <p>Red Sox manager Alex Cora compared the anticipation in the baseball world of Franco’s debut to that of <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays">Toronto Blue Jays</a> star <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/35002/vladimir-guerrero-jr">Vladimir Guerrero Jr</a>.</p> <p>“He can do a lot of stuff in the field,” said Cora, who saw Franco play during spring training. “Very physical for his age. He’s very strong. The future is bright for this kid.”</p> <p>Franco is wearing No. 5 out of respect for longtime star <a href="http://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/4574/albert-pujols">Albert Pujols</a>, a fellow countryman from the Dominican Republic.</p> <p>Pujols, now slugging for the <a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/lad/los-angeles-dodgers">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, made his major league debut one month and one day after Franco’s birth. Franco is the first major leaguer born in 2001.</p> <p>Franco was 5 for 17 with a long home run in seven spring training games for Tampa Bay this year.</p> <p>To make room on the active roster, right-hander Drew Rasmussen was optioned to Durham on Monday. A spot on the 40-man was cleared with infielder-outfielder Wyatt Mathisen being designated for assignment Tuesday.</p> <p><em>The Associated Press contributed to this report.</em></p> <p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://patabook.com/sports/2021/06/23/magic-wander-rays-franco-20-dazzles-in-debut/">Magic Wander: Rays’ Franco, 20, dazzles in debut</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://patabook.com/sports">Patabook Sports</a>.</p>

source https://patabook.com/blogs/99395/Magic-Wander-Rays-Franco-20-dazzles-in-debut