Wander Franco Stats & Scouting Report

AB	1037
AVG	.282
OBP	.34
SLG	.454
HR	30

Full name Wander Samuel Franco
Born 03/01/2001 in Bani, Dominican Republic
Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 189 / Bats: S / Throws: R
Debut 06/22/2021

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Hitting: 80. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: The No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international signing class, Franco has managed to exceed lofty expectations throughout his teenage years. He hit .339 in the offense-stifling Florida State League in his first full season as an 18-year-old—the third straight level he hit over .300—and began the year as the No. 1 prospect in baseball before spending the 2020 season at the Rays’ alternate training site. Franco’s time at the alternate site pushed him. He has long played against older players, but against pitchers with major league experience, he was pressed even further. He showed well enough that the Rays added him to their postseason taxi squad before he ever appeared in a major league game. He traveled with the team throughout the postseason and participated in pregame workouts, including during the World Series.

Scouting Report: Franco is an exceptionally advanced hitter for his age. The switch-hitter’s compact, level stroke and above-average bat speed from both sides of the plate grant him a controlled aggression most young hitters can’t match. His bat control allows him to make consistent hard contact while rarely striking out. He also has an innate ability to adjust his swing, leaving few holes for pitchers to attack. Franco stings the ball and has plus power potential, but his level swing leads to more line drives and ground balls than fly balls. He has shown in team competitions that he can put on a show in a home run derby. Franco’s body has already filled out. He is an average runner who will have to work to keep his speed with a thick, muscular lower half. Defensively, Franco’s soft hands, above-average arm and solid understanding of the game give him a shot to stay at shortstop, where he’s a potentially average defender. The Rays played him at second base and third base at the alternate site to help prepare for the possibility he could break into the majors at another spot. He has the tools to be an above-average or even plus defender at second or third.

The Future: Few prospects come close to Franco’s likelihood of being a productive regular or all-star thanks to his exceptional hitting ability. He’s more likely to win a batting title than a home run crown but has the chance to produce plenty of power as well. The Rays have a crowded infield, and Franco is unlikely to push Willy Adames off shortstop, but his bat and glove are ready to produce for the Rays in 2021 at any infield position. His bat should clear his path to St. Petersburg, even if he begins the season in Triple-A.
TRACK RECORD: Franco has always been able to hit. He hit .325 in 2019 and managed to lower his career batting average. His .339 average was the best among all Florida State Leaguers with 200 or more plate appearances. He did that while being four years younger than the average FSL hitter and a year younger than anyone else in the league. Franco has always had a knack for being his team's vocal leader. It's partly because of his talent, but it's also because of his high-energy personality. He is exceptionally competitive in whatever he does, and he's comfortable in the spotlight that has followed him ever since he signed as the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international amateur class. It helps that he's part of a baseball family— his older brothers are also minor leaguers, and his uncle is longtime major league shortstop Erick Aybar and his friend and neighbor is Indians infielder Jose Ramirez.

SCOUTING REPORT: There are hitters with exceptional awareness of the strike zone. There are others who do an excellent job of identifying pitches. There are those who have a knack of controlling the barrel and covering the entire plate. Franco has all of those attributes, plus the ability to drive the ball with power. He has some of the best bat-toball skills in the minors and an excellent feel for the strike zone. He's comfortable hitting down in the count because he can spoil pitches. He shows plus-plus raw power from both sides of the plate in batting practice, but in games he hits a large number of stinging ground balls. He'd get to more home runs if he lifted the ball more, but it's hard to argue with the results. Franco has soft, agile hands, but his thicker body gives him little margin for error to remain at shortstop. His above-average arm is enough to allow him to make the play in the hole in part because of a quick release and average range, but if he slows as he matures he'll have a hard time staying at the position. He projects as an above-average defender at second or third base.

THE FUTURE: The Rays generally move minor leaguers slowly to ensure they are ready to contribute the day they reach the majors, but Franco's talent has made it hard to keep him on the organization's typical timetable. He's ready to head to Double-A as a 19-year-old. He's only played shortstop so far, but it makes sense for the Rays to begin letting Franco play other infield positions because by the end of 2020 he may be a big league option if the Rays are making another postseason push.
Track Record: Franco models his game after that of his Bani neighbor Jose Ramirez. Scouts who watch Franco play see many similarities. Like Ramirez, Franco is also a switch-hitter with a similar approach. But unlike Ramirez, who has emerged as a star, Franco was the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international signing class who signed for $2.8 million. The Rays aggressively pushed him, and he responded by being the best hitter in the Appalachian League as a 17-year-old. Some scouts believed he could have jumped straight to high Class A with few issues. His dominance at the plate reminded many of what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did in the Appy League in 2016, but Franco was actually more productive than Guerrero at the same age.

Scouting Report: Franco is already one of the best hitters in the minors, even if he's half a decade younger than many other top prospects. He can hit just about any fastball with a short swing from either side of the plate and excellent bat speed. He stays balanced and keeps his head nearly still while generating outstanding bat speed. Unlike many prodigies blessed with amazing wrists and special hand-eye coordination, Franco already recognizes spin and refuses to chase sliders and changeups. Franco has the ability to hit just about anything and everything, but he pairs that with advanced plate discipline. He will get over-aggressive with fastballs out of the zone, but he drives them. In the upper levels of the minors, he will have to learn to tone down his eagerness to swing at fastballs, but that's one of the few blemishes he has as a hitter. Franco projects as a future .300 or better hitter with the ability to hit 25-30 home runs. Scouts differ more on how much power Franco will develop, but most are confident projecting plus or even 70-grade power. Defensively, he has body control but lacks elite twitch. His instincts, above-average arm and hands give him a shot to be an average or even above-average shortstop, and he could be a plus defender at second base or third base.

The Future: The Rays are an organization that typically moves prospects slowly, but Franco will likely force a speed-up. He will likely begin the season at low Class A Bowling Green, but he likely won't end the season there. Multiple scouts from other organizations said they feel comfortable projecting he will be a perennial all-star as an elite hitter who can play up the middle defensively.
Franco's uncle is veteran big league shortstop Erick Aybar, and his two older brothers--both named Wander--play in the Royals and Astros systems. After training with Rudy Santin in the Dominican Republic, Franco, ranked the No. 1 international prospect for 2017, signed with the Rays for $3.825 million, which was the largest bonus in his signing class. A switch-hitter with excellent bat speed from both sides, Franco has a short, pure stroke and keeps the barrel in the zone for an extended time. He shows good strike-zone discipline and advanced pitch recognition, and uses the entire field while making consistent contact. His raw power comes from his strong lower half, and he could generate impressive extra-base numbers as his body matures. Franco needs to learn the nuances of playing shortstop and hitting against premier pitching on a daily basis. Physically mature for his age, he possesses soft, quick hands and excellent first-step quickness. His arm is solid-average and could improve. He has the fluid actions that would allow him to play second base if his body or team needs necessitate a move. Given his advanced feel and ability to drive the ball at a young age, Franco may leap to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2018. His bat could allow him to move faster through the system than most, but the Rays feel no need to rush him and want him to build a solid foundation at every level.

Minor League Top Prospects

Wander Franco’s only taste of the upper levels was the 39 games he spent with Durham. He aptly combated older Triple-A pitchers with his discerning plate discipline and exceptional pure hitting ability. Franco’s swing from both sides holds up even against the most stringent scrutiny. His flat bat path allowed him to handle pitches in all areas of the strike zone, particularly punishing offerings in the upper third. Triple-A pitchers rarely generated swings and misses from Franco—14% whiff rate, according to Synergy Sports—and even less so on fastballs, which he missed on just 8% of his swings. Franco proved in batting practice that he has plus power in the tank. Tampa Bay called on Franco, who is younger than every college player selected in the first round of this year’s draft, to aid their pennant push. He appeared ready to become a dark horse AL Rookie of the Year candidate before a hamstring injury sidelined him in early September.
The game’s No. 1 prospect lived up to his reputation and then some in his first time playing at full-season ball. He mashed for a half-season in low Class A Bowling Green before moving to the pitcher-friendly FSL, where he continued to play with savvy and skills well beyond his years. Beyond his pure tools, opposing managers were most impressed by Franco’s incredible command of the strike zone. To that end, Franco, who played the entire season at 18 years old, was the only player in the minor leagues to play more than 100 games and finish with more than 50 walks and fewer than 40 strikeouts. There are a few questions about whether he’ll stick at shortstop, but he has range to play second base and the arm to play third base. No matter where he winds up, his skill set should allow him to settle in as the best players in the game in his early 20s.
After making his pro debut in the Appalachian League in 2018, fresh off his 17th birthday, Franco came as advertised in his first taste of full-season ball in the Midwest League. “Wander is an animal,” one scout said. “He’s a baseball rat. He knows he’s good and he wants to win. (Like) Michael Jordan (he) wants to beat you at everything." Coming from deep baseball bloodlines—his uncle is Erick Aybar—Franco’s advanced instincts at the plate meld with quick wrists, bat speed and enough raw power to project as a future .300 hitter with above-average power. Franco makes consistent contact from both sides of the plate, complementing his mental approach as much as his physical approach. At shortstop, Franco’s hands, instincts and actions should allow him to stay at the position, but you can find evaluators who believe he will move to third base eventually.
Franco signed with the Rays for $3.825 million as the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international class and exceeded all expectations in his 2018 pro debut. He dominated the Appy League despite being more than three years younger than the average hitter by leading the league with 85 hits and 57 RBIs. He ranked fourth in average (.351) and third in slugging (.587). Franco has a loose, easy swing from both sides of the plate, and many scouts believe he could develop a plus-plus hit tool, which is a testament to his elite bat control at such a young age. He rarely swings and misses, and his strikeout rate of seven percent led the league. He has a chance to be an elite offensive player, and he has established himself as one of the best prospects in baseball. All of Franco’s tools grade as average or better. He has sneaky power with a chance to hit 20 home runs one day. Scouts and coaches were impressed with Franco’s work at shortstop. He has more than enough arm for the position, but evaluators are split on whether he fits best at shortstop or second base. “We had him circled on our lineup every time we went in there to play him,” one Appy League manager said. “He can beat you offensively. He can beat you on the bases, and he was going to take away a couple hits every single time you played him.”

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020
Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020
Rated Best Strike-Zone Discipline in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019
Rated Best Hitter for Average in the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019

Scouting Reports

Wander Franco’s only taste of the upper levels was the 39 games he spent with Durham. He aptly combated older Triple-A pitchers with his discerning plate discipline and exceptional pure hitting ability. Franco’s swing from both sides holds up even against the most stringent scrutiny. His flat bat path allowed him to handle pitches in all areas of the strike zone, particularly punishing offerings in the upper third. Triple-A pitchers rarely generated swings and misses from Franco—14% whiff rate, according to Synergy Sports—and even less so on fastballs, which he missed on just 8% of his swings. Franco proved in batting practice that he has plus power in the tank. Tampa Bay called on Franco, who is younger than every college player selected in the first round of this year’s draft, to aid their pennant push. He appeared ready to become a dark horse AL Rookie of the Year candidate before a hamstring injury sidelined him in early September.
Hitting: 80. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: The No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international signing class, Franco has managed to exceed lofty expectations throughout his teenage years. He hit .339 in the offense-stifling Florida State League in his first full season as an 18-year-old—the third straight level he hit over .300—and began the year as the No. 1 prospect in baseball before spending the 2020 season at the Rays’ alternate training site. Franco’s time at the alternate site pushed him. He has long played against older players, but against pitchers with major league experience, he was pressed even further. He showed well enough that the Rays added him to their postseason taxi squad before he ever appeared in a major league game. He traveled with the team throughout the postseason and participated in pregame workouts, including during the World Series.

Scouting Report: Franco is an exceptionally advanced hitter for his age. The switch-hitter’s compact, level stroke and above-average bat speed from both sides of the plate grant him a controlled aggression most young hitters can’t match. His bat control allows him to make consistent hard contact while rarely striking out. He also has an innate ability to adjust his swing, leaving few holes for pitchers to attack. Franco stings the ball and has plus power potential, but his level swing leads to more line drives and ground balls than fly balls. He has shown in team competitions that he can put on a show in a home run derby. Franco’s body has already filled out. He is an average runner who will have to work to keep his speed with a thick, muscular lower half. Defensively, Franco’s soft hands, above-average arm and solid understanding of the game give him a shot to stay at shortstop, where he’s a potentially average defender. The Rays played him at second base and third base at the alternate site to help prepare for the possibility he could break into the majors at another spot. He has the tools to be an above-average or even plus defender at second or third.

The Future: Few prospects come close to Franco’s likelihood of being a productive regular or all-star thanks to his exceptional hitting ability. He’s more likely to win a batting title than a home run crown but has the chance to produce plenty of power as well. The Rays have a crowded infield, and Franco is unlikely to push Willy Adames off shortstop, but his bat and glove are ready to produce for the Rays in 2021 at any infield position. His bat should clear his path to St. Petersburg, even if he begins the season in Triple-A.
Hitting: 80. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: The No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international signing class, Franco has managed to exceed lofty expectations throughout his teenage years. He hit .339 in the offense-stifling Florida State League in his first full season as an 18-year-old—the third straight level he hit over .300—and began the year as the No. 1 prospect in baseball before spending the 2020 season at the Rays’ alternate training site. Franco’s time at the alternate site pushed him. He has long played against older players, but against pitchers with major league experience, he was pressed even further. He showed well enough that the Rays added him to their postseason taxi squad before he ever appeared in a major league game. He traveled with the team throughout the postseason and participated in pregame workouts, including during the World Series.

Scouting Report: Franco is an exceptionally advanced hitter for his age. The switch-hitter’s compact, level stroke and above-average bat speed from both sides of the plate grant him a controlled aggression most young hitters can’t match. His bat control allows him to make consistent hard contact while rarely striking out. He also has an innate ability to adjust his swing, leaving few holes for pitchers to attack. Franco stings the ball and has plus power potential, but his level swing leads to more line drives and ground balls than fly balls. He has shown in team competitions that he can put on a show in a home run derby. Franco’s body has already filled out. He is an average runner who will have to work to keep his speed with a thick, muscular lower half. Defensively, Franco’s soft hands, above-average arm and solid understanding of the game give him a shot to stay at shortstop, where he’s a potentially average defender. The Rays played him at second base and third base at the alternate site to help prepare for the possibility he could break into the majors at another spot. He has the tools to be an above-average or even plus defender at second or third.

The Future: Few prospects come close to Franco’s likelihood of being a productive regular or all-star thanks to his exceptional hitting ability. He’s more likely to win a batting title than a home run crown but has the chance to produce plenty of power as well. The Rays have a crowded infield, and Franco is unlikely to push Willy Adames off shortstop, but his bat and glove are ready to produce for the Rays in 2021 at any infield position. His bat should clear his path to St. Petersburg, even if he begins the season in Triple-A.
TRACK RECORD: Franco has always been able to hit. He hit .325 in 2019 and managed to lower his career batting average. His .339 average was the best among all Florida State Leaguers with 200 or more plate appearances. He did that while being four years younger than the average FSL hitter and a year younger than anyone else in the league. Franco has always had a knack for being his team’s vocal leader. It’s partly because of his talent, but it’s also because of his high-energy personality. He is exceptionally competitive in whatever he does, and he’s comfortable in the spotlight that has followed him ever since he signed as the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international amateur class. It helps that he’s part of a baseball family— his older brothers are also minor leaguers, and his uncle is longtime major league shortstop Erick Aybar and his friend and neighbor is Indians infielder Jose Ramirez.

SCOUTING REPORT: There are hitters with exceptional awareness of the strike zone. There are others who do an excellent job of identifying pitches. There are those who have a knack of controlling the barrel and covering the entire plate. Franco has all of those attributes, plus the ability to drive the ball with power. He has some of the best bat-toball skills in the minors and an excellent feel for the strike zone. He’s comfortable hitting down in the count because he can spoil pitches. He shows plus-plus raw power from both sides of the plate in batting practice, but in games he hits a large number of stinging ground balls. He’d get to more home runs if he lifted the ball more, but it’s hard to argue with the results. Franco has soft, agile hands, but his thicker body gives him little margin for error to remain at shortstop. His above-average arm is enough to allow him to make the play in the hole in part because of a quick release and average range, but if he slows as he matures he’ll have a hard time staying at the position. He projects as an above-average defender at second or third base.

THE FUTURE: The Rays generally move minor leaguers slowly to ensure they are ready to contribute the day they reach the majors, but Franco’s talent has made it hard to keep him on the organization’s typical timetable. He’s ready to head to Double-A as a 19-year-old. He’s only played shortstop so far, but it makes sense for the Rays to begin letting Franco play other infield positions because by the end of 2020 he may be a big league option if the Rays are making another postseason push. SCOUTING GRADES Hit: 80. Power: 60. Run: 50. Field: 55. Arm: 55. BA GRADE 75 Risk: High
TRACK RECORD: Franco has always been able to hit. He hit .325 in 2019 and managed to lower his career batting average. His .339 average was the best among all Florida State Leaguers with 200 or more plate appearances. He did that while being four years younger than the average FSL hitter and a year younger than anyone else in the league. Franco has always had a knack for being his team's vocal leader. It's partly because of his talent, but it's also because of his high-energy personality. He is exceptionally competitive in whatever he does, and he's comfortable in the spotlight that has followed him ever since he signed as the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international amateur class. It helps that he's part of a baseball family— his older brothers are also minor leaguers, and his uncle is longtime major league shortstop Erick Aybar and his friend and neighbor is Indians infielder Jose Ramirez.

SCOUTING REPORT: There are hitters with exceptional awareness of the strike zone. There are others who do an excellent job of identifying pitches. There are those who have a knack of controlling the barrel and covering the entire plate. Franco has all of those attributes, plus the ability to drive the ball with power. He has some of the best bat-toball skills in the minors and an excellent feel for the strike zone. He's comfortable hitting down in the count because he can spoil pitches. He shows plus-plus raw power from both sides of the plate in batting practice, but in games he hits a large number of stinging ground balls. He'd get to more home runs if he lifted the ball more, but it's hard to argue with the results. Franco has soft, agile hands, but his thicker body gives him little margin for error to remain at shortstop. His above-average arm is enough to allow him to make the play in the hole in part because of a quick release and average range, but if he slows as he matures he'll have a hard time staying at the position. He projects as an above-average defender at second or third base.

THE FUTURE: The Rays generally move minor leaguers slowly to ensure they are ready to contribute the day they reach the majors, but Franco's talent has made it hard to keep him on the organization's typical timetable. He's ready to head to Double-A as a 19-year-old. He's only played shortstop so far, but it makes sense for the Rays to begin letting Franco play other infield positions because by the end of 2020 he may be a big league option if the Rays are making another postseason push.
After making his pro debut in the Appalachian League in 2018, fresh off his 17th birthday, Franco came as advertised in his first taste of full-season ball in the Midwest League. “Wander is an animal,” one scout said. “He’s a baseball rat. He knows he’s good and he wants to win. (Like) Michael Jordan (he) wants to beat you at everything." Coming from deep baseball bloodlines—his uncle is Erick Aybar—Franco’s advanced instincts at the plate meld with quick wrists, bat speed and enough raw power to project as a future .300 hitter with above-average power. Franco makes consistent contact from both sides of the plate, complementing his mental approach as much as his physical approach. At shortstop, Franco’s hands, instincts and actions should allow him to stay at the position, but you can find evaluators who believe he will move to third base eventually.
The game’s No. 1 prospect lived up to his reputation and then some in his first time playing at full-season ball. He mashed for a half-season in low Class A Bowling Green before moving to the pitcher-friendly FSL, where he continued to play with savvy and skills well beyond his years. Beyond his pure tools, opposing managers were most impressed by Franco’s incredible command of the strike zone. To that end, Franco, who played the entire season at 18 years old, was the only player in the minor leagues to play more than 100 games and finish with more than 50 walks and fewer than 40 strikeouts. There are a few questions about whether he’ll stick at shortstop, but he has range to play second base and the arm to play third base. No matter where he winds up, his skill set should allow him to settle in as the best players in the game in his early 20s.
Track record: Franco models his game after that of his Bani neighbor Jose Ramirez. Scouts who watch Franco play see many similarities. Like Ramirez, Franco is also a switch-hitter with a similar approach. But unlike Ramirez, who has emerged as a star, Franco was the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international signing class who signed for $2.8 million. The Rays aggressively pushed him, and he responded by being the best hitter in the Appalachian League as a 17-year-old. Some scouts believed he could have jumped straight to high Class A with few issues. His dominance at the plate reminded many of what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did in the Appy League in 2016, but Franco was actually more productive than Guerrero at the same age.
Scouting Report: Franco is already one of the best hitters in the minors, even if he’s half a decade younger than many other top prospects. He can hit just about any fastball with a short swing from either side of the plate and excellent bat speed. He stays balanced and keeps his head nearly still while generating outstanding bat speed. Unlike many prodigies blessed with amazing wrists and special hand-eye coordination, Franco already recognizes spin and refuses to chase sliders and changeups. Franco has the ability to hit just about anything and everything, but he pairs that with advanced plate discipline. He will get over-aggressive with fastballs out of the zone, but he drives them. In the upper levels of the minors, he will have to learn to tone down his eagerness to swing at fastballs, but that’s one of the few blemishes he has as a hitter. Franco projects as a future .300 or better hitter with the ability to hit 25-30 home runs. Scouts differ more on how much power Franco will develop, but most are confident projecting plus or even 70-grade power. Defensively, he has body control but lacks elite twitch. His instincts, above-average arm and hands give him a shot to be an average or even above-average shortstop, and he could be a plus defender at second base or third base. The Future: The Rays are an organization that typically moves prospects slowly, but Franco will likely force a speed-up. He will likely begin the season at low Class A Bowling Green, but he likely won’t end the season there. Multiple scouts from other organizations said they feel comfortable projecting he will be a perennial all-star as an elite hitter who can play up the middle defensively.
Franco entered the year as a player with a potentially special bat, and has done nothing to change that outlook. The 17-year-old opened the year on fire in the Appalachian League. In his first 24 games this year, he’s gone hitless once. He’s hit for the cycle (in a game where he hit two home runs) and fell a double short of a second cycle. Franco very rarely swings and misses. He’s got the tools to play shortstop but, like most players his age, will need time and polish to learn the position.