The American League East better brace itself. Here comes the Wander Franco Era.
The Rays -- a franchise known in recent years for calling up a wave of helpful young players to help bolster pennant drives -- is promoting one of their most highly-thought of minor-leaguers in recent memory in Franco.
The 20-year-old shortstop hit .315 with a .953 OPS and seven home runs in 39 games for Triple-A Durham, and is universally ranked as the game's top prospect.
The switch-hitting Franco is part of the Rays' plan to jumpstart their slumping offense, which has contributed to their current six-game losing streak. It is the longest skid for Tampa Bay in three years and has left them 1/2 game in back of the Red Sox heading into the teams' three-game series.
Franco -- who has a career minor-league batting average of .332, walking more than he has struck out while skipping Double-A -- is being counted on to upgrade the Rays' shortstop position. Tampa Bay has most recently gone with rookie Taylor Walls, whose defensive is above-average but has managed just a .237 batting average in 26 games.
The Rays and Red Sox kick off their series at Tropicana Field Tuesday night.
For more on Franco's development, click here.
