Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is hitting second for the club in their Opening Day contest versus the visiting Detroit Tigers. There was some worry late in camp the young phenom might not be ready to open the season on time after he dealt with right quad soreness but Franco is good to go for Thursday's opener. The 22-year-old's power continues to be developed, but he hit .277 with eight steals and a .745 OPS across 83 games in the 2021 campaign. Most impressively, Franco struck out in just 9.6% of his plate appearance as a 21-year-old big leaguer after punching out in just 12% of his plate appearances in the 2021 campaign. The plate discipline and contact skills are already elite while the power should ramp up some in the 2023 campaign.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (quadriceps) said his right quad issue was more tightness than a strain, and it has responded well to treatment. "I feel good, thank God, and I'm ready to start on Thursday," Franco said. He was able to take swings in the batting cages on Monday after his MRI exam on Sunday didn't show anything serious. Barring a setback, the 22-year-old should be starting at shortstop on Opening Day on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers. When healthy, he should be in starting lineups in season-long fantasy leagues every day. Franco played in only 83 games in his second MLB season in 2022, slashing .277/.328/.417 with a .746 OPS, six home runs, 33 RBI, 46 runs and eight stolen bases in 344 plate appearances.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (quad) underwent an MRI exam on Sunday to find out the severity of his injury. The team announced that the results were favorable and Franco could be healthy enough to play on Opening Day. That is good news after Franco was forced to exit early on Saturday due to a right quad issue. It appears the switch-hitting infielder has avoided serious injury. He might not be ready for Opening Day, but Franco shouldn't need a stint on the injured list. Fantasy managers should check back for another update later in the week.

The Tampa Bay Rays expect to know more later on Sunday about the status of shortstop Wander Franco (quadriceps) after he undergoes an MRI exam. Franco was scratched from Saturday's Grapefruit League game due to soreness in his right quad, but it may have just been a precautionary measure by the team with Opening Day right around the corner. Fantasy managers are patiently holding their breath hoping that the MRI exam doesn't show anything significant that would cause the 22-year-old to begin the 2023 regular season on the injured list. If for any reason Franco is forced to miss time to open the year, Taylor Walls would see the majority of playing time at the 6 for Tampa. Check back later for an update on Franco.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (quad) was scratched from the lineup ahead of Saturday's Grapefruit contest. It sounds like this was a precautionary move by the team, so fantasy managers might not need to worry. The team is calling it right quad soreness, so they will likely give Franco a few days off to rest. The switch-hitting slugger should be fine in time for Opening Day. The organization is considering him day-to-day, so fantasy managers should check back for another update on his status.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco only has eight spring training at-bats to his credit, but he's made the most of them as he prepares for what he hopes will be his first full MLB season. Franco has gone 4-for-8 with a home run and a stolen base alongside a monstrous 1.636 OPS in his small spring sample. The 22-year-old has added a double while walking three times against just one strikeout. If there's any negative to be plucked from his early work this spring, it's that he's just 1-for-3 on stolen base attempts to this point. In any regard, there are big expectations for the Dominican Republic native in 2023. He hit .277 with six HR and eight SB alongside a .745 OPS across 83 games while missing time due to wrist surgery a season ago. Franco's bat has been 21% above league average through the first 153 games of his career, according to wRC+, while he is among the elite dynasty league shortstops available on draft day.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand) is back at shortstop and is hitting third on Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Shane Bieber. However, infielder Yandy Diaz (shoulder) remains out. Franco jammed his left hand in Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, but he's back in there for fantasy managers. The 21-year-old has missed a lot of time in 2022 due to injuries, but he's hitting a strong .328 (21-for-64) with no homers, eight RBI and eight runs scored in 18 games since returning from the injured list on Sept. 9. Get him back into your lineups. Diaz will be available off the bench on Tuesday and is expected to return to the starting lineup on Wednesday.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Wander Franco (hand) was removed from Sunday's loss to the Blue Jays with a jammed left hand. According to manager Kevin Cash, Franco jammed his left hand on a swing earlier in the game and was "fine.'' He would have hit in the eighth inning if the score (6-1) was closer. The 21-year-old is considered day-to-day as he was removed from Sunday's contest for precautionary reasons. Tampa Bay is off on Monday; Franco's next chance to return will be Tuesday against the Cleveland Guardians.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Wander Franco isn't in the team's lineup on Monday for a matchup with the Toronto Blue Jays and right-handed starter Jose Berrios. The 21-year-old is hitting .265 this season with a .310 on-base percentage, five home runs, and five stolen bases in 258 plate appearances for Tampa Bay. He'll head to the bench with shortstop Taylor Walls stepping in at shortstop and batting ninth. Walls has logged 412 plate appearances so far for Tampa Bay, hitting .177 with a .267 on-base percentage, six home runs, and eight stolen bases. Fantasy managers in search of streaming options are probably better off looking elsewhere.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) was reinstated from the injured list on Friday, with infielder Yu Chang being designated for assignment in a corresponding move. Franco will immediately return to shortstop and will hit second on Friday against New York Yankees right-hander Frankie Montas. The 21-year-old Dominican hasn't played in the big leagues since July 9, so there might be some rust to shake off initially, but he'll return to being the team's everyday shortstop to close out the regular season in 2022. In three minor league rehab games last week, he went 6-for-11 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) will meet with the team in New York and is set to be activated from the injured list this weekend, possibly as early as Friday, according to president of baseball operations Erik Neander. Wednesday's minor league rehab game with Triple-A Durham was a big step for Franco, who has gone 6-for-11 with a double and a walk in three games with Durham. The 21-year-old Dominican has been out since July 9 and was hitting .260/.308/.396 with five home runs, 23 RBI, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases in 227 at-bats before his injury. The Rays and fantasy managers could really use Franco's contributions down the stretch to close out the month of September.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) received treatment for his right hand/wrist Tuesday after leaving his minor league rehab game early on Monday with Triple-A Durham, per Tampa Bay Times' Marc Topkin. Franco also took 40-50 swings and should start for Durham on Wednesday. The 21-year-old hasn't played for the Rays since July 9 and hasn't had the smoothest rehab assignment, so it remains to be seen when he will rejoin the team. While the Rays would love to have him back, they will likely make sure he is fully healthy before proceeding. This may limit the time he can help fantasy managers in 2022.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) left his minor league rehab game early on Monday with Triple-A Durham after manager Kevin Cash said Franco "felt it a little bit" in his second at-bat. The team will see how his right hand feels on Tuesday. The good news is that he's not going for X-rays, so at least initially the team doesn't think it's a serious setback. Still, this is not good news after Franco already had his rehab assignment stopped due to hand/wrist soreness. The 21-year-old Dominican hasn't played for the Rays since July 9 and is running out of time to make an impact for fantasy managers in September. The Rays are just hoping to get him back healthy so he can be their starting shortstop for a playoff run.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a walk while serving as the designated hitter and batting second in his first minor league rehab game with Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Franco was pulled off his original rehab assignment due to soreness in his hand and wrist, but he's back in action again and is expected to remain on the rehab assignment for a week before he rejoins the Rays. The 21-year-old should return for the stretch run in September, but it won't give him a ton of time to make an impact in fantasy. Before his injury, Franco was hitting .260/.308/.396 with five home runs, 23 RBI, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases in his 227 at-bats. He will return to being the team's everyday shortstop when he's ready.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (wrist, hand) will begin a rehab assignment on Sunday with Triple-A Durham. The Rays plan is for Franco to play a week's worth of games with Durham, but things could change depending on how he performs. If they stick to that, he should return for an important series against the Toronto Blue Jays starting September 12. The 21-year-old phenom has been out since early July with the wrist/hand injury, and was actually pulled off a rehab assignment in August with lingering pain. Hopefully this time things go well for him and he can return to help both the Rays and his fantasy managers down the stretch.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (wrist, hand) said his hand feels better and that he is very close to resuming a minor league rehab assignment. However, he has no set target date to get back to Triple-A Durham or to rejoin the Rays. Franco will take batting practice on Friday in more of a game-like situation as a test. The 21-year-old was nearing a return to the Tampa lineup before he was pulled off his rehab assignment with Durham with lingering pain in his surgically repaired hand/wrist. While this is good news, he's running out of time to help fantasy teams in the final month of the regular season. Franco hasn't played in the majors since July 9 and was hitting .260/.308/.396 with five home runs, 23 RBI, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases in 227 at-bats before going on the injured list.

Tampa Bay Rays skipper Kevin Cash said there is no set date for shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) to resume his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham, but it won't be until after the weekend at the earliest. Franco said his surgically repaired right wrist wasn't bothering him after he took swings earlier this week, but the Rays are being cautious with their star shortstop. The 21-year-old hasn't played in a minor league game since Aug. 16 and a big-league game since July 9. Ideally, he'll restart his rehab assignment on Monday and be ready to return to the Rays by late next week. Franco is a must-start fantasy asset when he's healthy. Taylor Walls will continue seeing everyday work at the 6 in Tampa until Franco is reinstated from the injured list.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (wrist) said he feels "super good right now and getting better" and that his hand "didn't bother me much at all" after he took swing on Tuesday. He will do a full workout on Wednesday and should be able to resume his minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham soon, although there is no set date. Franco had surgery on his wrist but felt some soreness in his hand after starting his rehab assignment with Durham on Aug. 16. The 21-year-old appears on track to return to the Rays soon, but the 2022 regular season is coming to a close soon as well, so Franco won't have much time to make an impact for his fantasy managers down the stretch.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (hand, wrist) is considered day-to-day after he was pulled off his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham over the weekend due to more right hand/wrist soreness. He will continue to receive treatment this week, and although there's no timetable to return to games, there's optimism that he might be able to restart his rehab assignment sometime this week. Franco hasn't played in a big-league game since July 9, and he's hit .260/.308/.396 with five home runs, 23 RBI, 34 runs scored and five stolen bases in 227 at-bats this year. The 21-year-old Dominican needs to remain stashed in all fantasy leagues. Taylor Walls will continue to see regular playing time at shortstop until Franco is ready to return.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (wrist) is having some lingering symptoms while swinging and is being removed from his minor league rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham to return to St. Petersburg for treatment. Franco began his rehab assignment at Durham earlier this week and the Rays were hoping that he might be able to rejoin their starting lineup this weekend, but that obviously won't be the case. He's been away from the team since early July after having surgery on his right hamate bone. For now, there's no timetable for the 21-year-old to return to a rehab assignment in the minors. Yu Chang is starting at the 6 for the Rays on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals, but Taylor Walls should continue seeing most of the playing time with Franco out.