(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was one of the best players in MLB when healthy this season, with 19 home runs in a handful of games.
However, he is currently nursing a toe injury and won’t play in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game despite being selected as a starter.
Per Talkin’ Baseball, he is giving his spot to a player who is supposed to be one of his rivals for a very long time: Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco.
Wander Franco has been selected to the All-Star Game, replacing Aaron Judge pic.twitter.com/usE5C2PdhN
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 4, 2023
The shortstop is a deserved selection because he is having one of his finest seasons as a major leaguer.
The ultra-talented Franco is hitting .286/.345/.469 with 10 home runs, 47 runs scored, 43 RBI, and a whopping 27 stolen bases in 81 games.
When he broke into the league as a 20-year-old in 2021, he was billed as a player with elite contact skills, some power, excellent speed, and good defense.
In other words, a five-category contributor.
Franco is a fiery competitor: he is not afraid to voice his opinion in the clubhouse and doesn’t like to fail.
These circumstances have earned him some punishment from his own organization in the form of internal suspensions, but the franchise recognizes Franco is the face of the franchise, now and in the future.
If the Rays have the American League’s best record, it’s largely because of Franco’s contributions.
He will get to play among the biggest stars in the game, and deservedly so.
The post Wander Franco Is Being Rewarded For His Stellar Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.