ST. PETERSBURG – Two days after leaving the Rays for headaches, Wander Franco returned to the Tampa Bay lineup on Saturday and immediately extended his historic streak of games to 34 by basing a single on center field in the first inning.
Franco did not play at the start of the series against Minnesota on Friday night, but the 20-year-old Dominican was in the Rays’ offensive order for the second game as a shortstop and second bat.
Among players 20 and under, Franco’s streak is the third longest in the history of the American and National Leagues, breaking a tie with Arky Vaughan of the Pirates (33 games from July 21 to August 10). 1932) and Mel Ott of the New York Giants (33 August 24 to October 6, 1929), both Hall of Fame.
Franco’s streak is the longest of a rookie shortstop of any age since compatriot Hanley Ramirez was capped in 36 straight games for the Marlins since 2006. It is also the longest active streak in the Majors, the longest d a rookie in club history and the longest-serving Rays player in a season since Johnny Damon won 39 games in a row from May 3 to June 14, 2011 .