IT’S UNUSUALLY SUNNY IN FSL
How good was the Florida State League in 2019? For starters, it featured Wander Franco, an 18-year-old shortstop with an on-base percentage higher than .400. The FSL also had righthander Joe Ryan, the only starter in the minors to average more than 13 strikeouts and fewer than 2 walks per nine innings.
And both Franco and Ryan were on the same team.
The FSL also boasted the No. 4 overall pick from the 2019 draft in Jupiter outfielder JJ Bleday and a Lakeland lefthander named Tarik Skubal who showed he belongs in the conversation about the game’s best pitching prospects.
Bradenton shortstop Oneil Cruz and Palm Beach third baseman Nolan Gorman showed off electric raw power. Those players alone would be a bounty for most leagues in most years, but it was only the beginning of the depth of prospects featured in the FSL.
1. Wander Franco, SS
Charlotte (Rays)
AGE: 18. B-T: B-R. HT.: 5-10. WT.: 189. SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2017.
The game’s No. 1 prospect lived up to his reputation and then some in his first time playing in full-season ball. He mashed for a half season at low Class
