The Tampa Bay Rays have a strong young core that features stars such as Isaac Paredes, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Tyler Glasnow, Yandy Diaz, and Shane McClanahan.
Their core has helped them reach the postseason in each of the last four years and looks to have them set up for some more success in the near future.
Franco is a player that several MLB analysts are keeping their eye on right now.
The 22-year-old has put on an impressive show in the first two years of his MLB career.
On MLB Tonight, Matt Yallof, Bo Porter, and Cameron Maybin discussed what Franco could do for the Rays this season.
The @RaysBaseball have themselves a budding superstar in 22-year-old Wander Franco ⭐️
What can we expect to see from the switch-hitting shortstop in the upcoming season?#MLBTonight | #SpringTraining | @MattYallofMLB | @Boporter16Bo | @CameronMaybin pic.twitter.com/zbTTRNu0hO
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 3, 2023
Maybin praised Franco for being able to fight through multiple injuries, with a perfect example being the fact that he still managed to hit .277 last season, which was a considerable drop-off from 2021.
He also talked about how Franco is able to handle the bat on both sides of the plate, as well as hit to all fields and how that should ultimately help him in 2023 with the restrictions on the defensive shift.
Porter mentioned how an important aspect of a young player is their ability to control the strike zone and praised Franco for being able to do just that at such a young age.
Porter believes that Franco’s power numbers will increase this season.
Yallof then chimed in and took note of the fact that Franco has the sixth-lowest strikeout rate of any hitter since the start of the 2021 season.
This should bode will for Franco as he looks to do some more damage in his third MLB season.
NEXT: Fans React To Today's Tyler Glasnow News
