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Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Could Wander Franco reach the majors in 2019?

Wander Franco is amazing, Jose Alvarado is incredible, and JT Realmuto still isn’t a Ray

Covering the 5 MLB prospects who could move quickly in 2019, Joe Sheehan wrote for Baseball America that top Rays prospect Wander Franco could do the unthinkable and leap to the majors at 18 years old this year.

Franco’s pro debut featured a 1.004 OPS in the Rookie-level Appalachian League at a young 17; he won’t turn 18 until March 1. BA was the only major prospect ranker to have Franco on their Top 100 Prospects a year ago, wedging him in at No. 96 before he ever played a pro game. Now, he’ll be a top-15 guy going into 2019. Franco may be a long shot to make the leap—there’s been one 18-year-old in the majors in the last 40 years—but you have to at least consider the possibility given his absurd performance at 17.

Do you agree? Vote in the poll at the bottom of the page!

Rays News and Links

Down the stretch, Alvarado struck out almost literally half of his opponents. He struck out the same rate of opponents as Edwin Diaz. I’ve written before about Ryan Pressly’s breakout. I’ve written before about Jose Leclerc’s breakout. What happened with Alvarado? Did anything happen with Alvarado? The answer is yes. He changed on the fly, and became something dominant.

  • The status quo remains the same on the JT Realmuto front

Around the League

Wander Franco Poll!

Poll

When will Wander Franco make his major league debut?

This poll is closed

  • 3%
    Opening Day 2019
    (10 votes)
  • 4%
    After the deadline to achieve 2019 Super-2 status
    (14 votes)
  • 4%
    After the 2019 Super-2 window has passed
    (14 votes)
  • 17%
    As a 2019 September call-up / playoffs
    (58 votes)
  • 70%
    After the 2019 season
    (233 votes)
329 votes total Vote Now