Don't Care About Spring Training? How Bout a 550-foot Home Run?
In a spring training game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays, one top prospect showed out on his first at-bat.
Wander Franco, baseball's No. 1 prospect sent the first pitch he saw beyond the right-field fence into the neighboring boardwalk at Charlotte Sports Park in Florida, MLB reports.
“That one went into the parking lot, I think,” Franco said, per the MLB. “Everyone’s saying that it went over the building. I didn’t see it.”
During an in-game interview with FOX Sports Sun, Rays outfielder Austin Meadows said that Franco's swing looked effortless.
“That was sweet. His swing is so easy. It’s like he’s not even trying out there,” Meadows said. “He’s just so good. He’s got a lot of talent. It’s fun to watch him play, so hopefully we’ll see him up in Tampa soon.”
Franco crushed the solo shot off Miguel Yajure for a 1-0 lead with two outs in the third inning.
In the fourth, Franco had another chance for heroics again but grounded out to end the inning.
Franco hit a two-out single to finish 2 for 3 at the plate. The Rays beat the Pirates 3-1.
The expectations are sky-high for Franco, even though he has yet to play a game above the Class A Advanced level.
The top-rated prospect won’t break camp with the Rays, but the 20-year-old is capable of reaching the Majors this season, the MLB reports.