ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays have signed international free agent shortstop Wander Samuel Franco to a minor league contract. According to Baseball America and MLB.com, the 16-year-old was the top-rated international prospect eligible to sign this year.
Franco, a switch-hitting shortstop from Bani, Dominican Republic, was scouted and signed by Rays Director of International Scouting Carlos Rodriguez and Dominican Republic Scouting Supervisor Danny Santana.
“We are excited to bring Wander Samuel into the organization. We saw this as an opportunity to add to our system a high-caliber, switch-hitting shortstop with a good blend of tools and skills,” Rodriguez said.