Number one prospect in all of baseball, Wander Franco, received an invitation to big league camp along with five other prospects.

On Monday, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that number one prospect in all of baseball, Wander Franco, has been invited to Major League Spring Training along with five others. This marks the 19-year-old’s first full spring in big league camp. Franco was part of Tampa Bay’s 60-man player pool last season and spent the summer at the team’s alternate site in Port Charlotte. He also earned a spot on their 40-man postseason player pool.

In addition 1B/OF Dalton Kelly, INF Esteban Quiroz, and C/OF Brett Sullivan, RHP Yacksel Rios, and Adrian De Horta have also received invitations.

The switch-hitting Franco was named the Rays’ Minor League Player of the Year two seasons ago, when he slashed .327 BA/.398 OBP/.487 SLG/.885 OPS with 41 extra-base hits (nine home runs, 27 doubles, and seven triples) across 114 games between Class-A Bowling Green and Class-A Advanced Charlotte. It isn’t yet clear at which level he will start the season, although he could be on track to make his highly-anticipated big league debut later this season if he breaks camp in Double-A or Triple-A.

Both Sullivan and Kelly attended big league camp last season as non-roster invitees, and Sullivan also was in the 60-player pool for part of 2020 as was Quiroz. This is the first MLB Spring Training for Quiroz, who was a player to be named in the Tommy Pham trade. Quiroz played mostly second base and posted a .274 BA/.390 OBP/.541 SLG/.931 OPS line in two Minor League seasons after signing with Boston out of Mexico. Following the 2020 season, he played winter ball for Caneros de Los Mochis in the Mexican Pacific Winter League, slashing .299 BA/.466 OBP/.483 SLG/.949 OPS with eight homers and 38 RBI in 58 games.

The 25-year-old De Horta was part of the 60-player pool for the Angels last season. He worked to a 5.33 ERA with 76 punchouts and 33 walks across 52-1/3 frames (18 outings) including eight starts at three levels of the Angels’ system two seasons ago. Rios allowed four runs in as many innings with Pittsburgh last season.

Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) provided an updated list of the players invited to big leaguecamp so far by Tampa Bay. Those with an asterisk are non-roster invitees:

Pitchers (30): Nick Anderson, Jalen Beeks, Diego Castillo, Yonny Chirinos, John Curtiss, Adrian De Horta*, Chris Ellis*, Dietrich Enns*, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Fleming, Tyler Glasnow, David Hess*, Brent Honeywell Jr, Andrew Kittredge*, Shane McClanahan, Brendan McKay, Luis Patino, Colin Poche, Cody Reed, Trevor Richards, Yacksel Rios*, Kenny Rosenberg*, Phoenix Sanders*, Ryan Sherriff, Aaron Slegers, Drew Strotman, Ryan Thompson, Michael Wacha, Ryan Yarbrough, Tyler Zombro*

Catchers (6): Ronaldo Hernandez, Francisco Mejia, Joe Odom*, Kevan Smith*, Brett Sullivan*, Mike Zunino

Infielders (12): Willy Adames, Mike Brosseau, Vidal Brujan, Ji-Man Choi, Yandy Diaz, Wander Franco*, Dalton Kelly*, Brandon Lowe, Kevin Padlo, Esteban Quiroz*, Taylor Walls, Joey Wendle

Outfielders (7): Randy Arozarena, Kevin Kiermaier, Josh Lowe, Manuel Margot, Austin Meadows, Brett Phillips, Yoshi Tsutsugo

Noteworthiness

— The Rays have been linked to, and are said to have interest in, right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, formerly of Atlanta. After appearing in the 2018 All-Star game, Foltynewicz took a step back two seasons and pitched in just one game in 2020 — ironically against Tampa Bay on July 27th, when the Rays blew him up for six runs on four hits (including three homers) and four walks across 3-1/3 innings — resulting in an outright by the team and free agency by “Folty.”  Given his recent struggles, Foltynewicz would likely have to pitch his way into a rotation spot in Spring Training, although he is a change of scenery type of candidate.

— After proposing a 154-game season without prorating player pay for the 2021 season at the end of last week, on Monday the MLBPA rejected the league’s proposal as the union “doesn’t like expanded playoffs”. It is uncertain whether the player’s union will offer a counter proposal.

For what it’s worth, the league’s proposal also included delaying the season by a month while also adding eight games at the tail end while also expanding playoffs as mentioned above. The universal designated hitter is also included in this offer.

The league’s proposal had everything both sides want by all accounts: full season pay for the players, expanded postseason for the owners, and a delayed start for the health and safety of everyone involved. And while the league has never been a proponent of pushing the playoffs deep into November, a greater number of participants — both fans and players — ideally would be vaccinated against COVID-19 at some point during the upcoming season. Even though November is adjacent to winter, it’s almost a given that it will be safer.

As TZ Zencka (MLB Trade Rumors) writes, expanded postseason play could impact the players position heading into CBA negotiations after the season.

…caving on expanded postseason gives the players very little leverage to carry with them into the CBA negotiations at the end of the 2021 season. Besides, the MLBPA represents a large body of players, most of whom have made preparations for a season to start on time.

— TZ Zencka

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