Wander Franco Stats & Scouting Report College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Scouting Report: Franco is already one of the best hitters in the minors, even if he's half a decade younger than many other top prospects. He can hit just about any fastball with a short swing from either side of the plate and excellent bat speed. He stays balanced and keeps his head nearly still

Track Record: Franco models his game after that of his Bani neighbor Jose Ramirez. Scouts who watch Franco play see many similarities. Like Ramirez, Franco is also a switch-hitter with a similar approach. But unlike Ramirez, who has emerged as a star, Franco was the No. 1 prospect in the 2017 international signing class who signed for $2.8 million. The Rays aggressively pushed him, and he responded by being the best hitter in the Appalachian League as a 17-year-old. Some scouts believed he could have jumped straight to high Class A with few issues. His dominance at the plate reminded many of what Vladimir Guerrero Jr. did in the Appy League in 2016, but Franco was actually more productive than Guerrero at the same age.

Scouting Report: Franco is already one of the best hitters in the minors, even if he's half a decade younger than many other top prospects. He can hit just about any fastball with a short swing from either side of the plate and excellent bat speed. He stays balanced and keeps his head nearly still while generating outstanding bat speed. Unlike many prodigies blessed with amazing wrists and special hand-eye coordination, Franco already recognizes spin and refuses to chase sliders and changeups. Franco has the ability to hit just about anything and everything, but he pairs that with advanced plate discipline. He will get over-aggressive with fastballs out of the zone, but he drives them. In the upper levels of the minors, he will have to learn to tone down his eagerness to swing at fastballs, but that's one of the few blemishes he has as a hitter. Franco projects as a future .300 or better hitter with the ability to hit 25-30 home runs. Scouts differ more on how much power Franco will develop, but most are confident projecting plus or even 70-grade power. Defensively, he has body control but lacks elite twitch. His instincts, above-average arm and hands give him a shot to be an average or even above-average shortstop, and he could be a plus defender at second base or third base.

The Future: The Rays are an organization that typically moves prospects slowly, but Franco will likely force a speed-up. He will likely begin the season at low Class A Bowling Green, but he likely won't end the season there. Multiple scouts from other organizations said they feel comfortable projecting he will be a perennial all-star as an elite hitter who can play up the middle defensively.

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