We can say this about Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. He has a lot of fun when he’s on the field. Never was that more evident than during Wednesday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pittsburgh star Bryan Reynolds came to the plate with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. He grounded out to Franco — but this wasn’t an ordinary groundout to the shortstop. Officially, it went down as a 6-3 groundout. But really, it was a 6-6-3 groundout.
Because before Franco threw over to first baseman Yandy Díaz to retire Reynolds, he flipped the ball to himself.
Wander Franco will play his way and have fun while doing so. ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/fXlV9r4Ipa
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) May 4, 2023
The ever-so-popular unwritten rules crowd of baseball fans may not like what Franco did. Other fans, though, absolutely loved the fun that he was having on the field.
Wander Franco is a baseball player that every baseball fan should be watching every night pic.twitter.com/cMPSYW8Gtg
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 4, 2023
Wander Franco is unbelievable. Enjoyable as heck. https://t.co/0znSqBctOp
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) May 4, 2023
Wander Franco is the definition of swagger on the baseball field. pic.twitter.com/okAhmCW9P6
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) May 4, 2023
Wander Franco flipped the ball to himself 😅
VIBES.
🎥: @BallySportsFL pic.twitter.com/wX75vLi4qN
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) May 4, 2023
And the swagger didn’t stop there for Franco. He led off the bottom of the seventh. And while Pittsburgh pitcher, Cody Bolton got ahead of Franco, he made a mistake on an 0-2 pitch.
Franco made him pay.
The 8th Wander of the World! #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/c7QeA1IBK0
— Bally Sports Florida & Bally Sports Sun (@BallySportsFL) May 4, 2023
Franco is having a big season for the Rays. The home run was his sixth of the year, he’s slashing at .305/.369/.559 and is clearly capable of strong defense.
Seeing him play, it’s easy to understand why Tampa is 25-6 on the season.
[Photo Credit: Bally Sports Sun]
