The Tampa Bay Rays have been the best team in the American League this season, and a big reason why has been the excellent play of star shortstop Wander Franco. Most assumed that Franco would be a surefire selection to the 2023 MLB All-Star Game, but that wasn’t the case.
And many fans are extremely upset about it.
Franco has been a true five-tool player this year, hitting for a .283 batting average to go along with nine home runs and 26 stolen bases.
The stats clearly show that Franco has been as valuable to his team as anyone in baseball. He currently has a 4.2 WAR (Wins Above Replacement), which is third in all of baseball behind only Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuña. Of the top-five WAR players in baseball, all of them received an All-Star Game spot except for Franco.
When you take this into account, it means that Franco has easily been the most valuable player on an excellent Rays team. Despite this, three other Rays were named to the All-Star Game while Franco did not receive a spot in the game.
Fans took to social media to offer their opinion on this very clear snub of Franco.
https://twitter.com/DurhamBulls/status/1675634749593845760
Yeah Wander Franco not being named an All-Star has officially thrown any ounce of meaning that making the All-Star game previously had and thrown it out the window lmfao https://t.co/rbAvp07ztj pic.twitter.com/4aIFVRALQR
— Addison (@YankeeWRLD) July 2, 2023
Somehow Wander Franco isn’t an All-Star 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/mhwP83Sm8o
— Nick Geddes (@NickGeddesNews) July 2, 2023
Doesn't matter which WAR you choose, Wander Franco is a top 3 player in the American League.
He was not named an All-Star. pic.twitter.com/fuZQ3lJ61o
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) July 2, 2023
Who is your biggest All-Star Snub?
Mine is Whit Merrifield making it over Wander Franco.
— Peter Appel (@peterappel23) July 2, 2023
How is Wander Franco not an All-Star??
MLB Ranks:
4.2 bWAR (3rd)
3.7 fWAR (t-3rd)
26 SB (3rd)
4 3B (t-5th)
90 H (t-10th)
21 2B (t-12th)
44 K (t-13th)pic.twitter.com/Rq8T4Dcu5q— Crump. (@jakecrumpler) July 2, 2023
It would be understandable, but still probably wrong if the Rays were not having this much success as a team and Franco missed the All-Star Game. For him to not receive a bid considering the Rays’ excellent season and his elite stats is truly a head-scratcher.
