Stone Crabs' Franco notches three-hit effort
Wander Franco has only played two professional games in the state of Florida, but if he's already starting to put down some roots.Tampa Bay's top prospect continued his torrid pace at the plate -- notching three hits, including a double, and two RBIs -- to help lift Class A Advanced
Tampa Bay's top prospect continued his torrid pace at the plate -- notching three hits, including a double, and two RBIs -- to help lift Class A Advanced Charlotte past Fort Myers, 3-2, on Wednesday at Charlotte Sports Park.
Gameday box score
Franco, who was promoted to the Florida State League on Tuesday, already has flashed the spectrum of productivity he is capable of since joining the Stone Crabs. In his debut, he reached base three times after a pair of hits -- including an RBI single in his first at-bat -- and a walk, made two outstanding plays in the field in the first and ninth, and swiped a bag. The 18-year-old extended his hitting streak across two levels to five games on Wednesday and has reached base six times in eight FSL plate appearances.
Against the Miracle, MLB.com's No. 1 overall prospect went the other way on an 0-1 fastball from right-hander
After grounding out back to the pitcher in the third, the Dominican Republic native stepped to the dish with two on and two out in the fifth. Facing Colina for a third time, Franco took a couple of pitches inside, off the plate, before hammering a deep fly ball that hit off Fort Myers' right fielder
The 5-foot-10, 189-pound shortstop stepped in against lefty
Over 64 games this season, Franco sports a .329/.400/.517 slash line with 28 extra-base hits, 42 runs scored and 31 RBIs while posting a .917 OPS. He's also displayed an advanced feel for the strike zone with 31 walks to 20 strikeouts.
MiLB.com's 2018 Organization All-Star also was named Appalachian League Player of the Year and a postseason All-Star after a sensational rookie campaign with Rookie Advanced Princeton. Franco paced the circuit with 85 hits, 57 RBIs and 142 total bases, while finishing in the top five with a 28 extra-base hits (second), a .587 slugging percentage (third), seven triples (third), a .351 average (fourth), 11 homers (fourth) and a 1.005 OPS (fifth).
Franco was named a midseason All-Star with the Hots Rods earlier this year and also earned his third Player of the Week nod -- his first this season -- for the week ending April 28.
Charlotte's
Minnesota's No. 15 prospect
Rob Terranova is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @RobTnova24.