20 STARS FOR THE 20S

AGE 19

WANDER FRANCO

SS, RAYS

Franco enters the decade as a teenager in the minors, but that doesn’t mean he’s far away from making a major league impact. Both he and Julio Rodriguez are 2017 international free agent signees out of the Dominican Republic who rank as No. 1 prospects in their organizations.

Franco ascended to the status of No. 1 prospect in the game after the graduations of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Eloy Jimenez in 2019. He embraced the expectations of top billing by hitting .327 at a pair of Class A stops. He should bat near the top of the Rays’ order for the better part of the 2020s.

JULIO RODRIGUEZ

OF, MARINERS

Rodriguez has shot up prospect lists in the past year, going from Dominican Summer League MVP in 2018 to high Class A Modesto late in 2019. Rodriguez matches prodigious physical talent with the “it” factor that draws teammates to him and foretells of future stardom.

AGE 20

KUMAR ROCKER

RHP, VANDERBILT

The only amateur