Rays calling up MLB's No. 1 prospect Wander Franco
Wonder no more: It's Wander Franco time.
The Tampa Bay Rays are calling up Franco, MLB's consensus top prospect. He'll join the team and make his major-league debut on Tuesday against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
We have some Wanderful news
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 21, 2021
The 20-year-old is a switch-hitting shortstop who was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2017. He jumped to Triple-A this year after not playing in 2020 due to the pandemic. Although he hadn't played above High-A prior to this season, Franco did spend last summer at the Rays' alternate training site.
He entered Sunday hitting .323/.376/.601 with seven home runs, 35 RBIs, and five stolen bases over 38 games at Triple-A Durham.
The Rays traded longtime shortstop Willy Adames to the Milwaukee Brewers last month in a move that essentially cleared the position for Franco. Taylor Walls, another highly regarded shortstop prospect, has manned the position in the interim.
Franco will join a reeling Rays team that's in the midst of a six-game losing streak. The Rays dropped out of first place in the AL East after their loss in Seattle on Saturday, and they now sit a half-game back of Boston.
The Rays optioned right-hander Drew Rasmussen to Durham after Sunday's game, opening an active roster spot for Franco, according to Adam Berry of MLB.com. Another move to clear a 40-man roster spot will be required before Tuesday's contest.