No spotlight too bright for confident Wander

ST. PETERSBURG -- Wander Franco bounced around Tropicana Field on Wednesday afternoon, going from fielding ground balls at shortstop to the dugout, back to the batting cage set up around home plate then off to a handful of interviews with media in town to cover the Rays’ American League Division Series matchup with the Red Sox.

On the eve of his postseason debut, the Rays’ rookie phenom looked like he was already ready to play under the game’s brightest spotlight.

“I'm very excited,” Franco said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “I'm already looking forward to the game starting so that I can experience that feeling of being in the playoffs.”

It’s fair to wonder how young players will handle their first trip to the postseason. The last time the Rays faced the Red Sox in the ALDS in 2013, highly touted rookie Wil Myers struggled to live up to the moment. Left-hander Shane McClanahan understandably admitted he was nervous when making his playoff debut last year. The regular season can only prepare you so much for October.

But Franco isn’t like most players. The switch-hitting shortstop’s energy and enthusiasm, not to mention his braces, remind you that he’s only 20 years old. The way he carries himself? Beyond his years. The way he plays? Beyond his peers.

“Talent-wise, he might be the best player on the field. His talent is pretty undisputable,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He can beat you so many ways. … He handles things remarkably well. We marvel at what he does on a daily basis. There's a lot of guys that really enjoy the bright lights. Wander seems to appreciate it really, really well.”

That’s the way Franco has always been, according to Carlos Rodriguez, the Rays’ vice president of player development and international scouting, who signed Franco for $3.825 million out of Bani, Dominican Republic, on July 2, 2017. Is it really a surprise? Franco has dealt with intense scrutiny since he was barely a teenager. When he was 13, he held a press conference and explained why he’d play in the big leagues someday.

Earlier this season, Franco told MLB.com he was “born to hit.” Those who’ve been around him suggest he was born for big moments, too.

“I think he's going to take advantage of it and capitalize,” McClanahan said. “The guy is a very special player, and it's very clear that he's a very special player. So I think we're all excited to watch him do what he does.”

At 17 years old, he was literally under the lights for the first time while playing for Rookie-level Princeton in the Appalachian League. More than three years younger than his counterparts, Franco hit .351 with a 1.004 OPS in 61 games. The two-time consensus top prospect flew through the Minors, and he’s been every bit what the Rays expected since his highly anticipated Major League debut on June 22.

That night at Tropicana Field, with all of baseball watching to see if the hype was real, Franco worked a walk in his first career plate appearance. In the fifth inning, he blasted a game-tying three-run homer off Eduardo Rodriguez -- who will start ALDS Game 1 for Boston -- that “lit up” The Trop, as Cash said, and earned him a curtain call from the home crowd.

“I've been with the organization for a few years now,” Franco said. “They've helped me gain the confidence to be able to come here and just feel comfortable and feel part of the team.”

While Franco credited the Rays for helping him handle big moments, Rodriguez said it’s simply part of Franco’s makeup. He learned early by attending high-intensity, high-energy games in the Dominican. He grew up around the game. He watched his uncles, Erick and Willy Aybar, play in the Majors. He spent last season in the Rays’ postseason bubble, seeing first-hand what it takes to reach the World Series.

“He's always actually been in the spotlight. … There's always been high expectations for him,” Rodriguez said. “This obviously [is] at the highest level and the highest stakes, under the biggest microscope. This is something that he really enjoys, something that I think he's able to do because he loves to play the game and he loves to compete. At the end of the day, it's almost as simple as that.”

Franco has lived up to the expectations since his debut, even more so since he seemed to get more comfortable in the Majors after the All-Star break. In his final 55 games of the regular season, the rookie hit .314/.372/.500 with 26 extra-base hits, 32 RBIs, 45 runs scored and nearly as many walks (19) as strikeouts (22). Tampa Bay’s top-seeded team went 38-17 when he touched the field during that stretch.

Franco also worked his way into the AL Rookie of the Year Award conversation with a historic 43-game on-base streak, tied with Frank Robinson for the longest in AL/NL history by a player 20 years old or younger.

“It's not something you see every day out of players,” Rays infielder Yandy Díaz said. “For us to see him, as a team, we're all super proud of the way he's playing for us.”

The Rays are excited to see what’s next. So is Franco. No matter the stage, he enjoys the spotlight.

“Who doesn't?” he said, smiling.