After missing back-to-back games against the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop roam frank is in the lineup for Saturday’s third game of a four-game series.
Franco was benched Thursday and Friday for how he has handled frustrations this season.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco smiles as he talks with Vidal Brujan in the dugout during the third inning against the Kansas City Royals on Friday, June 23, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Florida. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)
He will bat on the second Saturday against kansas city starting pitcher Jordan Lyles.
«It’s been hard, very hard, not being with the team,» Franco said through a translator. «I’m happy to be back. It’s been hard.»
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While Rays manager Kevin Cash declined to go into detail about what led Franco to the bench, several instances this season involving Franco are believed to have led to it.
frank has had base running failureshe couldn’t run out of ground balls at times and smashed his bat after an at-bat Wednesday, according to The Associated Press.
Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photos by Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
The young shortstop also got into a verbal altercation on the bench with teammate Randy Arozarena in May, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
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«I think they are doing a good job in the way they controlled the situation,» Franco said. «I’ve been in this organization for a long time and I think they’ve got a good handle on the situation with the mistakes I’ve made.»
Cash told reporters Thursday that the organization will work with Franco.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco, left, and Vidal Brujan, wearing promotional Arozarena jerseys, swap places during batting practice before a game against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday, June 24, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. . (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
«Wander is a really good kid, a really good person. He’s a young player who is learning and dealing with the challenges of being a major leaguer and some of the frustrations that come with it,» Cash said.
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«Over the course of this season, there have probably been multiple times that the way you’ve handled your frustrations hasn’t been the way we ask our players to continue to be the best teammates.»
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million guaranteed contract in November 2021.
Associated Press contributed to this report