Derek Jeter Hall Of Fame Night, New York Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays 9/9/22 Yankees Stadium

Wander Franco stood in front of his locker in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium on Friday afternoon and delivered a declaration: “It’s time.” Franco, who spent the past two months on the 10-day injured list after undergoing surgery on the fractured hamate bone in his right wrist, was activated ahead of a pivotal three-game series against the Yankees. The 21-year-old switch-hitter was certainly referring to the fact that he first began a rehab assignment last month, only for it to be halted abruptly by soreness in his right hand. But, perhaps, Franco was also speaking to the position in which Tampa Bay finds itself. The Rays have arguably the toughest schedule remaining amid a packed AL Wild Card picture, and now their superstar is back for the stretch run. Still, even he couldn’t have known how prophetic that statement would prove to be. In his first taste of game action since July 9, Franco made an electric return to the big league stage, tallying a season-high-tying three hits, two RBIs and two runs scored to carry the Rays to a 4-2 victory over the Yankees on Friday night, bringing them within 3 1/2 games of New York (two in the loss column) in their quest for a third consecutive American League East title.

Category