Player Outlook
Wander Franco had an excellent season on the field blossoming into the five-tool player everyone expected him to be in his third season at the big league level hitting for power and average while also being a force on the bases and even in the field. That all came to a screeching halt in mid-August as news broke that the 22 year old was reportedly in a relationship with a minor. Franco was placed on administrative leave and never returned outside of a procedural move in the winter while MLB continues to investigate the situation. The last thing we want to do is trivialize the seriousness of this matter. Franco would be a first round pick without his self-sabotaging efforts but he could also find himself suspended if not incarcerated for some time pending the outcome of this investigation. Currently, he seemingly has better odds of playing for a Japanese team in 2024 than he does with the Rays.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
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Fantasy Points per Game
r
Runs
hr
Home Runs
rbi
Runs Batted In
bb
Base on Balls (Walk)
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Stolen Bases
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Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 393.53.5 65 17 58 42 30 .281
2022 235.52.8 46 6 33 26 8 .277
3y Avg. 2873.3 55 10 43 31 13 .280
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Roster
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Fantasy News

  • Rays' Wander Franco: Facing lesser charge

    Franco is facing a lesser charge after a judge in the Dominican Republic analyzed evidence that he had an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paid her mother for her consent, the Associated Press reports. Franco had been accused of commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering but now is accused of sexual and psychological abuse. While the new charge is considered a lesser offense, Franco would still face between two and five years in prison if found guilty. The 22-year-old has been conditionally released from jail but is required to return once a month to appear before authorities. Franco is not expected to be allowed back into the United States anytime soon, and his future in Major League Baseball is very much in question.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Likely barred from entering U.S.

    Franco is likely to be barred from entering the United States while facing charges of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, two immigration attorneys told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. Franco was released from custody in the D.R. and is free to leave the country, but he must return once a month to appear before authorities while the legal process plays out. However, the U.S. government has the ability to revoke Franco's visa on the grounds he could be considered a threat to public safety. Even if that doesn't happen, the chances that Franco would attempt to travel to the U.S. are "minimal," attorney Javad Khazaeli told Rosenthal. Franco, 22, is being investigated in the Dominican Republic over allegations he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother 100,000 Dominican pesos per month to maintain a "dating relationship," per court documents obtained by The Athletic. A conviction would be an aggravated felony under U.S. immigration law, resulting in a permanent ban from the United States.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Charges made official

    Franco has been charged with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Deportes reports. Franco was initially arrested Monday for failing to appear at a summons last week, and now these new charges have officially been revealed. According to Recio, Franco will be under house arrest and prohibited from leaving the country. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge for the first time Friday.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Detained in Dominican Republic

    Franco was arrested by authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com report. The arrest is due to the fact that Franco failed to appear at a summons last week. Franco appeared voluntarily Monday with his new lawyers as he was questioned regarding allegedly having had a relationship with a minor. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge within 48 hours of his arrest and in the meantime will remain in the custody of the Puerto Plata Prosecutor's Office. In addition to being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic, Franco is also being investigated by Major League Baseball.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Meets with authorities in D.R.

    Franco met with authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He no-showed after a summons last week, but evidently that was because Franco had fired his former lawyers and they were unable to present the summons to the shortstop. Franco has since hired new representation and they were present at Monday's meeting. The 22-year-old is being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: No-shows after summons

    Franco failed to respond to a summons filed in the Dominican Republic to address allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com reports. Franco had been summoned by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents for questioning Thursday morning. At least two people have filed legal action against the Rays shortstop and, according to Recio, Franco is also under investigation for an alleged third relationship with a minor. Additionally, the Associated Press has reported that he recently fired his legal team. To this point, no criminal charges have been filed against Franco. Even if that remains the case, he is likely facing a suspension from Major League Baseball.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Back on 40-man amid investigation

    Franco was activated Thursday from administrative leave, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. This is merely a procedural move, as administrative leave is only applicable during the season and the World Series came to an end Wednesday. Franco is still under investigation from both authorities in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball following allegations that emerged this summer involving inappropriate relationships with minors. Topkin notes that Franco's "status to return to playing remains unchanged and uncertain."
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Placed on administrative leave

    Franco was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by Major League Baseball under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. He had been on the restricted list in a mutual agreement between the Rays and the player, but Franco has now been shifted to administrative leave as the league and authorities in the Dominican Republic continue their investigations into his alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. Franco doesn't have a set length for his stay on administrative leave, as MLB can typically extend it on a week-by-week basis until the investigations have been completed. Franco will continue to be paid and accrue service time while on leave.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Goes on restricted list

    The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list Monday, and the shortstop will take a leave from the team for the duration of their six-game road trip this week. In a statement, the Rays noted that the decision to place Franco on the restricted list was mutually agreed upon by the club and the player as Major League Baseball opens up an investigation regarding social media posts made about the 22-year-old over the weekend. Franco's leave could extend beyond this week, pending the results of the investigation.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Not traveling with team

    Franco won't travel with the Rays on the team plane ahead of their upcoming series in San Francisco, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. The Rays and MLB are investigating social media posts made about Franco over the weekend, and it appears as though the shortstop will at least be unavailable to begin the team's road trip to the West Coast. Manager Kevin Cash called Franco's absence from Sunday's lineup an off day, and the team declined to comment on Franco not traveling on the team plane. It's possible Franco is placed on the restricted list or administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Gets breather Sunday

    Franco isn't in the Rays' lineup Sunday against the Guardians. After going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts during Saturday's game, Franco will take a seat Sunday while Osleivis Basabe gets the start at shortstop to make his MLB debut.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Cranks walk-off home run

    Franco walloped a walk-off home run in Friday's 9-8 victory over the Guardians. The Rays' bullpen blew a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Franco saved their bacon by depositing Nick Sandlin's third pitch of the bottom of the frame over the right-field wall. It was the first walk-off home run of Franco's young career. He also added two singles, a walk and his 30th stolen base of the season in this one. Now with 17 long balls on the year, Franco has an excellent shot at a 20-30 campaign.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Three hits, homer in loss

    Franco went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to St. Louis. Franco has been on a tear of late, going 10-for-16 (.625) over his previous four games while belting five homers in his last 10 contests. Overall, Franco's slashing .277/.342/.466 with 16 homers, 62 runs scored, 54 RBI and 29 stolen bases across 477 plate appearances in his age-22 campaign.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Smacks 13th homer

    Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Yankees. Franco was cold for much of July, hitting just .202 with a .669 OPS across 89 at-bats. However, he did manage to end the month on a four-game hitting streak, during which he's hit two home runs and scored five runs. Franco has shown glimpses of breaking out this season, and his strong plate discipline and willingness to steal bases should give him a safe floor of production at a minimum moving forward.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Ends power drought

    Franco went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base Saturday against the Astros. Franco went deep in the eighth inning to record his 12th homer of the season, and the first in his last 15 starts. He entered Saturday's game hitting only .145 in that span to go along with three RBI and four runs scored. Franco also snapped a 16-game stretch without a stolen base, and his 29 swiped bags on the season have been his primary source of fantasy value.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Power returning

    Franco went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against Atlanta. Franco extended his hitting streak to four games when he popped his 11th home run of the season in the first inning. It was his second long ball in that span, signifying a potential step forward in his production after he went deep only twice across 23 games in June. Though Franco's power production has come sporadically, he's still managed an impressive .185 ISO across 370 plate appearances on the season.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Showcases versatility

    Franco went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and one steal in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to Philadelphia. Franco clubbed his 10th home run of the season Tuesday, ending Aaron Nola's night with a solo shot in the eighth inning. The young shortstop also reached on a single in the sixth off Nola and swiped second base for his 27th steal in 2023. Franco has been on a tear in his last five games, batting 7-for-21 (.333) with seven RBI, four runs scored, two stolen bases and two triples. He'll look to continue the hot streak Wednesday in a tentative matchup against right-hander Taijuan Walker.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Tallies steal in win

    Franco went 0-for-3 with a walk and a steal in Sunday's 3-1 win over the Royals. Franco was still able to provide a positive fantasy performance despite going hitless on the afternoon. He stole his 25th bag of the year, and his activity on the bases has been an added element to his game after he combined for just 10 steals over his first two major league seasons. Franco is putting together a productive year at the plate thus far, but has struggled over the course of June, slashing just .229/.295/.357 with two homers, seven RBI, five runs and a 7:11 BB:K since June 5.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Benched through at least Friday

    Rays manager Kevin Cash said Franco will remain out of the lineup through at least Friday's game versus the Royals due to the way the infielder has handled frustrating situations this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Per Topkin's report, Cash said Franco "is a good kid," and the team hopes to work with him to improve with him in becoming a better teammate and in how he deals with the challenges that come with being a big leaguer. Franco is hitting .250 with one home run and four steals in 17 games this month, and he has uncharacteristically struck out at a 40 percent clip over the last three games. Taylor Walls is starting at shortstop in Thursday's series opener.
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  • Rays' Wander Franco: Steals in consecutive games

    Franco went 0-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 2-0 loss to the Padres. Franco is just 2-for-4 on stolen base attempts over his last four games, but the mixed results haven't deterred him from running. The shortstop is now 24-for-31 on the basepaths this season, ranking third in the majors in steals. He's been held hitless five times in 14 games in June, batting .281 for the month and .295 with an .822 OPS over 69 contests overall. He's added eight home runs, 32 RBI and 41 runs scored.
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