The Red Sox and reeling Rays begin a crucial three-game series tonight in St. Petersburg (7:10 p.m., NESN), where Wander Franco, the No. 1 prospect in baseball and a potentially generational talent, will make his Major League debut.
It was always a matter of when Franco would get the call this year, not if, and with the Rays on a six-game losing streak, the front office decided to promote their wunderkind infielder. A shortstop by trade, he’ll play third base tonight. Since MLB Pipeline, MLB’s in-house prospects site, was founded 10 years ago, only two players have received an 80 hitting grade on the 20-80 scale, with AL MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr.