New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was one of the best players in MLB when healthy this season, hitting 19 home runs in a handful of games.
However, he is currently nursing a toe injury and will not play in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game despite being selected as the starter.
Per Talkin’ Baseball, he’s giving up his spot to a player who is slated 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 well-deserved selection as 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 became known as a player with elite contact skills, some power, excellent speed and good defense.
In other words, a contributor in five categories.
Franco is a fiery competitor: he is not afraid to speak his mind in the clubhouse and does not like to fail.
These circumstances have earned him some punishment from his own organization in the form of internal suspensions, but the franchise recognizes that 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.
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Rays continue to dominate one set of AL odds
