Wander Franco is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop playing for the Tampa Bay Rays in Major League Baseball. Having debuted in 2021, he achieved All-Star status in 2023.
Bio/Wiki
Age: 22 years
Height: 1.78 m
Weight: 86kg
Born: 1 March 2001
Birthplace: Baní, Dominican Republic
Profession: Baseball Player
Nationality: Dominican
Current team: Tampa Bay Rays (#5 / Shortstop)
Date joined: 2021 (Tampa Bay Rays)
Parents
His parents are Wander Franco and Nancy Aybar.His father, also bearing the name Wander, had a stint in minor league baseball during the 1990s. His mother, Nancy Aybar, is the sibling of Erick Aybar and Willy Aybar, both of whom had careers in Major League Baseball.
Siblings
His siblings, Wander Alexander Franco and Wander Javier Franco, were part of the Houston Astros and San Francisco Giants systems.
Wife and Children
Franco tied the knot with his girlfriend. The couple welcomed a son named Wander Samuel Franco Jr. in the latter part of 2018, and they also became parents to another son born in 2022.
Career
Professional Career
Minor leagues
In the 2017 international class, Franco ranked among the top prospects and joined the Tampa Bay Rays on July 2, 2017. He started his pro career with the Princeton Rays in 2018, notably hitting for the cycle on July 14. Despite being just 17, he earned the title of 2018 Appalachian League Player of the Year by achieving a .374/.445/.636 line with 11 home runs and 57 RBIs in 245 plate appearances for the Princeton Rays.
Baseball America rated Franco as the fourth-best baseball prospect before the 2019 season. Beginning with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, he later moved up to the Charlotte Stone Crabs on June 25. His talents secured him a place in the 2019 All-Star Futures Game, and he concluded the season with a .327/.398/.487 line, including nine home runs and 53 RBIs.
Ahead of the 2020 season, Franco claimed the coveted No. 1 baseball prospect position. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the cancellation of the minor league season, he couldn’t participate in any MLB or minor league games. Instead, during the 2020-21 offseason, he played for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League, batting .350/.435/.500 in 23 at-bats.
Although invited to the 2021 major league spring training by the Rays, Franco didn’t secure a roster spot and began the season with Triple-A’s Durham Bulls. In his 39 games with Durham, he recorded an impressive .315/.367/.586 line with seven home runs and 35 RBIs.
Tampa Bay Rays
In the 2021 season, the Rays revealed Franco’s promotion to the major leagues on June 20, ahead of their series against the Boston Red Sox. His inclusion in the 40-man roster was formalized on June 22. Franco swiftly made his MLB debut on the same day, achieving his first career hit, home run, and RBI with a three-run shot off Red Sox’s Eduardo Rodríguez in the fifth inning.
During the 2021 season, on August 25, Franco achieved an impressive feat by reaching base safely for 26 consecutive games, marking the longest such run by a player under 21 since 1961. Building on this, he extended his streak to 37 consecutive times on base on September 7, surpassing Mickey Mantle’s record of 36 games on base for a player 20 years old or younger.
November 23, 2021, marked a significant milestone for Franco as he and the Rays agreed to an eleven-year, $182 million contract extension, featuring a club option of $25 million for a twelfth year. At just 20 years of age, Franco became the youngest player in baseball history to secure a contract worth over $100 million, surpassing Ronald Acuña Jr.’s eight-year, $100 million extension from 2019. This deal represented the largest ever for a player with under a year of major league service.
The 2022 season saw Franco achieve his first multi-home run game against the Boston Red Sox on April 22. This feat made him the youngest player in Tampa Bay Rays history to accomplish such a milestone, achieving it at the age of 21 years and 52 days.
In the same season, Franco faced some setbacks. He was placed on the 10-Day IL on May 31 due to a strained quadriceps, but he was able to return and was activated on June 26. However, on July 9, he was placed on the 10-Day injured list once again, and it was later revealed that he would be undergoing hand surgery, leading to an estimated 5-8 weeks of recovery time. He was finally activated off the injured list on September 9.
Moving into the 2023 season, Franco’s achievements continued as he was selected for his first All-Star game on July 4 as a replacement for the injured Aaron Judge. Franco was reinstated to the 40-man roster by the Rays following the conclusion of the 2023 season, as administrative leave is only available in-season. Franco’s status for the 2024 season is pending the result of the investigation
International Career
In the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Franco proudly donned the colors of the Dominican Republic. While Willy Adames and Jeremy Peña took charge of the shortstop position, Franco’s role shifted to second base, where he shared playing time with Ketel Marte. Across three games and nine at-bats, Franco showcased a .222/.417/.222 slash line, emerging as a standout for the team with the highest number of walks (tied with Juan Soto) at three.
Wander Franco’s Contract
In November 2021, the Rays and Franco reached an agreement on a contract extension worth $182 million over 11 years, just 70 games into his career.
Wander Franco’s Net Worth
In terms of finances, Wander Franco’s net worth is estimated to be around $15 million.
Dominican Authorities Conduct Searches in Quest for Wander Franco
The Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents in Santo Domingo conducted searches at two residences in the Dominican Republic in an attempt to locate Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco on Tuesday, as reported by a Dominican Republic newspaper, Listin Diario. Allegations of a relationship with a minor from Puerto Plata prompted the authorities to search for the 22-year-old Franco, who had returned to the Dominican Republic earlier this month. However, he was not found during the search conducted by authorities.
Police cars and officials visited Franco’s “maternal home” in Baní, Peravia, province and his residence in Villa Real, leaving contact information for Franco to reach out. MLB insider Hector Gomez mentioned on social media that new evidence has been discovered, further implicating Franco in the accusations. Franco’s U.S.-based attorney, Jay Reisinger, had no comment. The ongoing investigation, spanning four months, involves Dominican authorities and Major League Baseball looking into allegations of inappropriate relationships with minors.
The legal age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18. Franco, who denied the allegations, was placed on administrative leave under MLB’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. MLB traditionally waits for legal proceedings before deciding on possible suspensions. Franco missed the final 42 games of the regular season and his absence will be considered in any disciplinary action. Signed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021, Franco is owed $2 million for the 2024 season. The Rays face uncertainty regarding the future of Franco, who was expected to be a cornerstone player. The team’s spring training is approaching, and the situation leaves them in a challenging position as they prepare for the upcoming season.
