The Tampa Bay Rays lost shortstop Wander Franco Saturday after striking out in his first at-bat against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark.
Franco did not come out to play defense in the bottom of the first, with Taylor Walls moving to short from second base, and Yu Chang taking over at second.
The team announced later that Franco was removed after experiencing discomfort in his right hand and wrist. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports that the 21-year-old will not play in Sunday’s finale, and will have the injury examined by the team’s hand specialist, Dr. Douglas Carlan, in St. Petersburg on Monday.
#Rays say Franco left game after 1st at-bat due to “discomfort in his right hand and wrist.” Won’t play Sunday, will see Dr. Carlan in St. Pete on Monday
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 9, 2022
Franco has already madde one trip to the injured list this season, missing 23 games with quad and hanstring issues in both legs that caused him to miss most of the month of June.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
