"Arrr, me mateys, Wander Franco be back in the game after walkin' the plank for not bein' a proper crewmate!"
2023-06-24
Arrr, me hearties! Tampa Bay Rays' scallywag, Wander Franco, be back in the lineup for the battle against the Kansas City Royals after being marooned on the bench for two games! Shiver me timbers, let's hope he can plunder some hits and swashbuckle his way to victory!
Arr, me hearties! Tampa Bay Rays' shortstop, Wander Franco, has been benched for two games due to his frustrations this season. However, he will be back in the lineup for the third game of a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals. Franco will bat second against starting pitcher Jordan Lyles. He expressed his relief at being back in the lineup, saying, "It's been hard, really hard, not being with the team. I'm happy to be back. It's been difficult."The Rays' manager, Kevin Cash, declined to provide specifics on what led to Franco's benching, but there have been multiple instances this season that are believed to have led to it. Franco has had baserunning lapses, failed to run out ground balls at times, and shattered his bat after an at-bat on Wednesday. He also had a verbal altercation with teammate Randy Arozarena in May. Despite this, Franco stated that he thinks the organization is doing a good job of managing the situation.
Cash acknowledged that Franco is a young player dealing with the challenges and frustrations of being a Major League player. He also stated that Franco's handling of his frustrations has not been in line with the expectation of being the best teammate. Franco signed an 11-year, $182-million guaranteed contract in November 2021. The organization will work with Franco to address his frustrations and ensure he upholds the team's standards.