Wander Franco

ATC projections by Ariel Cohen. Steamer projections by Steamer Projections Blog. THE BAT projections by Derek Carty. Zeile Consensus projections by FantasyPros.

Fantasy Baseball News Last 90 Days

Rays making postseason plans without Franco

The Tampa Bay Rays are making their postseason plans without shortstop Wander Franco on the roster.

Sep 21 · ESPN Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Being Investigated For Second Complaint

A special prosecutor in the Dominican Republic is investigating a second formal complaint that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco engaged in a relationship with a minor, which is the latest of three accusations against the 22-year-old, according to sources. The first complaint against Franco was filed on July 17. The third girl has not spoken to authorities and they are still investigating her alleged relationship with Franco. Prosecutors hope to speak with Franco, who is on administrative leave and is unlikely to play again in 2023, in the coming weeks. Major League Baseball often waits until a criminal investigation is finished to discipline players, but fantasy managers that roster Franco in dynasty/keeper leagues should expect some sort of lengthy suspension in 2024 as well.

Aug 30 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Everything we know about the Wander Franco investigation

On Tuesday, MLB announced that Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave.

Aug 22 · ESPN Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Placed On Administrative Leave

Major League Baseball has placed Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco on administrative leave as the league and authorities in the Dominican Republic investigate Franco's alleged relationships with underaged girls, according to sources. The Rays had previously placed Franco on the restricted list. The 22-year-old isn't expected to return to the team for the rest of this season while the investigation continues, and he could be facing a lengthy suspension in 2024. If he has played his last game in 2023, he'll finish with a .281/.344/.475 slash line, .819 OPS, 17 home runs, 58 RBI, 30 stolen bases and 65 runs scored in 442 at-bats. Rookie Osleivis Basabe figures to continue seeing the majority of the starts for Tampa at shortstop moving forward.

Aug 22 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Expected To Remain Sidelined

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is expected to remain sidelined through either an extension of his stay on the restricted list or a shift to administrative leave as Major League Baseball continues its investigation into Franco's alleged relationship with a minor. The 22-year-old was placed on the restricted list by the Rays last week, and it appears likely that he won't play again for at least the rest of the 2023 season. MLB is working with the authorities in the Dominican Republic, and there appears no end in sight to the investigation. For now, fantasy managers can only continue to stash Franco in hopes he'll return in September. In the meantime, Osleivis Basabe continues to start at the 6 for the Rays.

Aug 21 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Unlikely To Return Amid MLB Investigation

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is currently under investigation in the Dominican Republic for an alleged relationship with a minor, and now it seems he's unlikely to return to MLB. "It will be very unlikely that Franco will play in MLB again, judging by the results of the investigations that are currently being carried out, which directly commit him to the accusations against him," a person very close to the investigations said. The 22-year-old switch-hitter is currently on the league's restricted list, and fantasy managers shouldn't expect him back for the rest of this season while the investigation is carried out. For the foreseeable future, Osleivis Basabe is going to serve as Tampa's primary shortstop.

Aug 17 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Prosecutors In Dominican Republic Evaluating Allegations Against Wander Franco

Prosecutors in Peravia, Dominican Republic have opened an investigation into the social media allegations against Wander Franco, a prosecuting attorney told the Associated Press. The country’s National Agency for Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence Unit is handling the case. According to the attorney’s office, they’ve yet to have any contact with U.S. officials…

Aug 17 · MLB Trade Rumors Rays Wander Franco

Rays Place Wander Franco On Restricted List

The Tampa Bay Rays placed shortstop Wander Franco on the restricted list on Monday, which takes him off the roster, according to an MLB official. While he's off the roster, Franco will most likely be unpaid. The league has launched an investigation into social-media posts about Franco from Sunday that allege that he was with a minor. It's unclear how long Franco will be away from the team, but fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to play at all on the team's road trip this week. How long the 22-year-old remains sidelined will ultimately come down to MLB's investigation into the matter. Osleivis Basabe got the start at shortstop on Sunday for Tampa with the Rays giving Franco a rest day.

Aug 14 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Not Traveling With The Team

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco did not travel with the team to San Francisco, where the Rays will start a series with the Giants on Monday, according to sources. The Rays earlier said that Major League Baseball is doing "due diligence" concerning social-media posts from Sunday about Franco being involved with a minor. The 22-year-old was also given the day off on Sunday. This is a situation to watch closely for fantasy managers of Franco, as he could be placed on the restricted list with no imminent timetable for a return. Franco made his first All-Star team in 2023 and is currently hitting .281/.344/.475 with an .819 OPS. He has already set career-highs in home runs (17), doubles (23), RBI (58), stolen bases (30) and runs scored (65) in 112 games this year.

Aug 14 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

MLB Looking Into Wander Franco Allegations

The Tampa Bay Rays released a statement on Sunday noting that the MLB is doing their due diligence regarding allegations surrounding shortstop Wander Franco. There were reports on social media that the 22-year-old reportedly had been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor. The Rays noted in a statement they were made aware of the situation and are taking it seriously. It sounds like the league is looking into the situation, so there should be more information on this soon.

Aug 13 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Has Big Night In Win

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco helped lead the Rays to victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, and three RBI. Franco's homer was of the walk-off variety as the Rays won 9-8. The night led to Franco's 17th home run of the season and upped his on-base percentage to .346. With 30 steals and a .281 average, he'll continue to be a contributor in all categories the rest of the way.

Aug 11 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Blasts 14th Homer In Loss

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 7-2 loss to the New York Yankees. The 22-year-old caught a Gerrit Cole changeup for a gargantuan two-run shot in the first inning. Franco wouldn't reach base for the rest of the game, but he ultimately contributed all the offense for his club in this one. MLB's former top prospect has exhibited newfound defensive wizardry this year, tying with Dansby Swanson for the most outs above average (13) in baseball. With that, Franco has also flourished offensively as a top-10 fantasy shortstop with a .267 BA, 14 round-trippers, 51 RBI, 29 stolen bases, and 58 runs scored over 409 at-bats this season.

Aug 2 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco Continues To Scuffle At The Plate

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in a 3-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday. The offense was at a premium in this one as Zach Eflin and Kyle Bradish were locked in a pitcher's duel. Franco, who is in the midst of a 2-for-17 slump, wasn't able to get anything going at the plate for his part. After a hot start in April and May, Franco started to slow down in June and has now gone ice cold in July. The 22-year-old is batting just .190 this month with a .601 OPS to go along with two home runs, four RBI, and a pair of stolen bases. Franco, who's played in 94 games so far this season, only appeared in 83 games last year after being limited by a wrist injury. Perhaps the young player has just hit a wall in what is his first full-length season in MLB. His overall batting line is still healthy, due to his hot start, as he's slashing .270/.333/.443 with 11 home runs, 44 RBI, and 28 stolen bases over 370 at-bats. Fantasy managers and the Rays, who are 4-12 in July, would very much like to see the young shortstop pick it up again soon.

Jul 22 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena Out Against Rangers

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco and outfielder Randy Arozarena are both out of the lineup on Wednesday against the Texas Rangers. Taylor Walls will man the 6 and bat eighth, while Luke Raley will start in left field and bat in the two-hole against Rangers right-hander Jon Gray. Franco and Arozarena are both fine and are just getting rest days. Franco has gone hitless in seven at-bats in his last two contests, but the 22-year-old remains an elite shortstop in fantasy. He's hitting just .188 (9-for-48) with two homers and four RBI in 13 games in July. Arozarena, like Franco, has been a must-start for fantasy managers in 2023 when he's on the field. The 28-year-old has been a bit sluggish as well in July, going 11-for-50 (.220) with two homers and four RBI in 13 games played.

Jul 19 · Source via Rays Randy Arozarena Wander Franco

Wander Franco Launches 11th Homer In Loss

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves. The 22-year-old took Charlie Morton deep during the first inning, proving to be the only run the Rays would muster in this one. After something of a second-year slump, Franco has blossomed into a stellar five-category contributor in his third season. The 2023 All-Star is hitting .284 with 11 long balls, 44 RBI, 28 stolen bases, and 48 runs scored over 335 at-bats overall. Franco should be ranked as a premier fantasy shortstop in the strong Tampa Bay lineup for the rest of the season.

Jul 8 · Source via Rays Wander Franco

Historic stats obtained free of charge from and are copyrighted by Retrosheet. ATC projections by Ariel Cohen. Steamer projections by Steamer Projections Blog. THE BAT projections by Derek Carty. Zeile Consensus projections by FantasyPros.

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