Future Outlook: SS Wander Franco Can Be the Greatest Rays Player Ever

Despite eventually falling short in the ALDS at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays enjoyed quite a successful 2021 campaign and have good reason to be excited for the future. The Rays have put together an incredibly talented roster loaded with potential and bright futures. This optimism is perhaps best embodied by MLB’s reigning No.1 prospect SS Wander Franco.

The Dominican did not fail to impress in his rookie season, earning himself a record-breaking 11-year/$182 million dollar extension with the Rays. Even after making an impact throughout the MLB at only 20 years old, an extension of this magnitude means is completely unprecedented and shows Wander Franco could really be well on his way to becoming an all-time great in Tampa, Florida.

Largest contracts in Tampa Bay #Rays history:
1. Wander Franco ($182M),
2. Evan Longoria ($100M),
3. Kevin Kiermaier ($53.5M),
4. Blake Snell ($49.4M),
5. Wilson Alvarez ($35M) pic.twitter.com/b44VaBentx
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) November 23, 2021

INTERESTING FACTS

Largest contracts in TB history: 1. Franco ($182M), 2. Longoria ($100M), 3. Kiermaier ($53.5M), 4. Snell ($49.4M), 5. Alvarez ($35M)
Signed the largest contract ($182M) by a player with less than 1 year of service time in MLB history, surpassing Ronald Acuna ($100M)
Most consecutive GP reaching base under 21 years old in MLB history: T1. Franco, Frank Robinson (43), 3. Mickey Mantle (36)
MLB playoff debut records: Youngest with multiple Hits, Youngest with an XBH since 1974, Multiple Hits in both regular season & playoff debut

FUTURE OUTLOOK

WANDER FRANCO CAN BE THE GREATEST RAYS PLAYER EVER

COLORS KEY | FULL RAYS OUTLOOK

Considered one of the top prospects coming into the 2021 season, Wander Franco posted solid numbers in his rookie season, hitting .288 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs. This earned him third place in AL Rookie of the Year voting, coming up short to only Astros SP Luis Garcia and fellow teammate OF Randy Arozarena.

Franco ended the year in fantastic form too, as he hit .368 in the postseason, recording two home runs and four RBIs. The Dominican’s rookie season has presented initial indications of an extremely prosperous career, and given the size and length of his contract with what is considered a small-market team, Wander Franco may well be on his way to being the greatest player in Tampa Bay franchise history. It’s not often the Rays are able to keep a player of this caliber in town for the long haul but he’s the exception.