The Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco is making baseball history already
Wander Franco hits a two-run single in the eighth against the Red Sox at the Trop on Monday. Photo: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
In his debut season, Wander Franco is on pace to break records set by baseball greats like Ted Williams and Ken Griffey Jr., DRays Bay reports.
- Franco has reached base in 48 of his first 53 games as a big leaguer. He’s one of just two players under 21 to reach base in that many games over his first 53 games — Willie Mays was the other.
By the numbers: Among players under 21, Franco’s 30-game streak of getting on base (entering last night’s game) is the fifth-longest in American League/National League history — tied with Mel Ott in 1928-29 — and everyone above him on the list is a Hall of Famer, per MLB.com.
- Mickey Mantle is the only AL player to own a longer streak before turning 21, reaching base in 36 straight games in 1951-52.
What’s next: Franco now chases Frank Robinson’s 43-game on-base stretch set in 1956.
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