Franco originally signed with the Astros as a 16-year-old, and the Rays might have found a steal when they snagged him in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft last December. In his first year above Rookie-level, Franco emerged as a quality strike-throwing prospect at Hudson Valley. He showed excellent control, walking eight batters in 13 starts, along with solid command of three quality pitches. His best offering is a fastball that ranges from 92-96 mph with sinking life and some deception. He mixed in a fringe-average 79-82 slider and an average changeup that flashes plus. Franco leans on his changeup more than his slider, and he'll need to refine the slider to maximize his potential. He came out of nowhere to put himself on the map this summer, and he has middle-of-the-rotation upside.
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