Normally the Fantasy Alarm Prospect Report is a once-a-week piece; however, the promotion of the best prospect in baseball is worthy of a special report.
How’d We Get Here
Wander Franco is just 20 years old but already he’s been the top prospect in baseball for two years and there are clear reasons why he achieved that rank that young. Signed in July of 2017 for $3.8 million, the Rays were aggressive with the then 17-year-old by putting him in stateside Rookie League ball instead of just the Dominican Summer League, and that move paid off as he was the MVP of the Appalachian League. By the time he was 18, he was at full-season A-Ball for 2019, and across 114 games, between two levels of Class-A, he slashed .327/.398/.487 with nine homers, 27 doubles, seven triples, 82 runs, 53 RBI, and 18 steals. Obviously, there were no organized games in 2020 but he spent the time getting instruction and work at the alternate site. Now the climb really took off this year as he was placed at Triple-A to start and the stats have just poured in over the 39 games at Durham, with a .315/.367/.586 triple slash, seven homers, 11 doubles, six triples, 35 RBI, 30 runs, and five steals all while striking out just 21 times.
The Skills
The combination of tools with Franco is perhaps the best set we’ve seen in quite a long time when it comes to prospects. The Hit tool is an 80-grade trait (which is the highest it can be on the 20-80 scouting scale) and it’s the same grade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received as well and we see what that’s capable of. The Power tool, everyone loves to talk power, is a 60-grade skill, or plus in scouting terms, and that’s equal to what you think of with some of the best power hitters in the game and is typical of guys capable of hitting 30-plus homers a year. His Speed tool grades out as 55-60, or above-average to plus, and should result in him being capable of stealing 25-plus, if not 30-plus, bags a year in majors. The Arm and Fielding tools don’t directly matter in fantasy terms but they are also above-average and should allow him to stay on the field and in the order to work on any hiccups he has coming to the majors.
What Is He Capable Of?
We’ve already seen a couple of other top prospects come up this year and flounder some before being sent back down between Alex Kirilloff and most notable Jarred Kelenic. Does that mean we should be hesitant about Franco? No, but perhaps a bit more cautious with what we expect of him right off the bat. The combination of tools for Franco is better overall than Kelenic including the Hit tool and his patience and mature approach at the plate have led to more walks (95) than strikeouts (75) in his 214 minor league games. The Rays will give him all the chances possible to make the adjustments necessary to be an impactful member of their lineup. Also, one thing to note is that he’s played second and third along with mainly shortstop at Durham and his most recent games saw a majority of time at third base which might tip the Rays’ hand as to how they will use him potentially. So what can we expect from the youngster? Well, again it’s going to depend on where they hit him in the lineup but the tools are there for him to be a very good bat right away, though it could still take a few games to get his feet wet, and he’ll be a threat to steal when on the bases. If you’re in a league where guys don’t become available on the wire until they play in the majors, he’s the last impact bat that’s coming up for a while, including Vidal Brujan as he’s struggled the last three weeks, so go for him. Only drop fringe roster players though in pursuit of Franco because there’s still a chance the Rays slow play him.
Does This Affect Other Players?
Well, clearly anytime a new player comes up some guys are going to lose out on playing time as that’s just how it goes. But who specifically are we seeing that will lose out on at-bats and time in the lineup with Franco set to come up on Tuesday? There has been a combination of players playing up the middle for the Rays of late with Joey Wendle, Taylor Walls, and Brandon Lowe all seeing time at short and second as well as Wendle and Diaz getting time at third base. Expect Franco to come up and solidify one of those spots, likely either shortstop or second base, while the others play platoon roles elsewhere. Franco is also a switch-hitter so they don’t need to worry about the handedness of the opposing pitcher either. For a specific player to lose at-bats it’s likely Taylor Walls sees the bulk of the loss.
Check-in on Wednesday to see the regular Prospect Report talking about unheralded prospects ranked 51-100 in my rankings with an update to the Top-250 Prospect rankings coming next week.