In the top of the sixth, he stayed back on a ball that took a difficult hop, and he got the out at first.
Even the most touted prospects often arrive in the majors to discover that the game seems to play out at hyperspeed.
“He’s kind of beyond his years,” manager Kevin Cash marveled after the Rays beat the Red Sox 8–2 at Tropicana Field.
And he had the ability: He soon produced a 1.004 OPS in rookie ball, an .896 OPS in Class A and an .872 OPS in High A.
Franco drew ovations on Tuesday when he took the field for pregame work, when he was announced in the lineup, when he strode to the plate for his first at bat and especially when he ripped that homer to left field to score three runs and tie the game.