Toolshed: Rays will make most of middle infield

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- At some point in the hopefully not-too-distant future when the coronavirus pandemic passes, people are safe, rosters are being set and the season is around the corner, the Tampa Bay organization is going to have some tough decisions to make, specifically in the middle infield of the middle of its Minor League ladder.

The game's best farm system also boasts its best prospect in Wander Franco, the 19-year-old shortstop who finished 2019 at Class A Advanced Charlotte. It also claims No. 45 overall prospect Vidal Brujan, who split time between short and second base while completing his season at Double-A Montgomery. It also picked up No. 72 Xavier Edwards in a deal from the Padres this offseason, adding another switch-hitting infielder to the mix after he finished up at Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore at age 19. The Rays also used their 2019 first-round pick on UNC Wilmington shortstop Greg Jones. Add in the organization's No. 15 prospect Taylor Walls, No. 25 Lucius Fox and ... you get the picture.
Of the top 30 Tampa Bay prospects ranked by MLB.com, six are shortstops or second basemen who either ended last season at Class A Advanced or Double-A or, like Jones, are definite candidates to start above Class A. That might seem like a roster conundrum. Rays director of Minor League operations Jeff McLerran has a pretty simple response to that.

"As you know, we are the Rays," he said.
In other words, expect most of these middle infielders to play numerous positions as they try to carve out their future roles with Tampa Bay.
Start, as most things Rays-related do these days, with Franco. The talented switch-hitter has climbed to the top of every major prospect ranking list, mostly on the strength of his elite bat. After all, Franco did produce a .327/.398/.487 line with nine homers, 56 walks and only 35 strikeouts in 114 games between Class A Bowling Green and Charlotte. (Oh yeah, he was also only 18 years old for the whole season.) Franco's 80-grade hit tool makes him valuable at any position, but he would have even more value if he could stick at short. That's not necessarily a given. He has above-average speed but not the blazing wheels that command attention or cover vast amounts of ground on the dirt. His plus arm certainly might play at third, and his size at 5-foot-10, 189 pounds is actually closer to that of a second baseman.
All three spots could be on the table some day for Franco.
"Even now with the way defenses shift, you get a lot of different experiences in areas of the field," McLerran said. "He's worked out in different spots during his time with us, even though he's only played shortstop in games. That's something we'll continue to make sure he's ready to step into any role that's necessary of him when he does make it to the big leagues."
That said, Franco was scheduled to play for the Dominican Republic at this month's Olympic Americas qualifier before that, like most of baseball, was put on hold. Even though the squad also boasted fellow Top-100 prospect and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, the Rays had been told by Team DR that Franco was still slated to be the club's starter at the six.
So if Franco could be penciled in for a promotion to Double-A to open 2020 as the Rays try to find his next challenge, it's pretty safe to assume he'll be Montgomery's Opening Day shortstop as well.
"Versatility is something that a lot of our guys add during their journey in their development," McLerran said. "We'll see what happens with him. As of now, the plan is for him to be at short. ... He can play a good shortstop and be a good Major League shortstop. If he's ready at any of the other positions, that's a bonus."