Former #1 Prospect Wander Franco Gets Hilariously Pranked After Parking In Rays President’s Spot

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Former No. 1 baseball prospect Wander Franco recently signed $182 million, 11-year contract with the Rays that includes a club option for the 2033 season. That does not give him an exemption to park in the Tampa Bay president’s parking spot, as he found out on Friday.

The Rays are currently in the midst of spring training and the team practiced on Friday morning.

While the team was warming up for the day, a car suddenly appeared from beyond the outfield wall. It was Franco’s.

As it would turn out, the 21-year-old Franco parked in team president Erik Neander’s spot.

Neander, who was in the middle of an important interview with the team’s on-field reporter, was interrupted by the team manager, Kevin Cash. Assuming that the worst, Neander asked who got injured. Fortunately, nobody was hurt.

However, Cash needed to let Neander know about the prank that they were about to pull and they all ran out onto the field to watch. Here is how it went down:

After making their point with the prank, Franco’s car was returned to the lot. To make things even funnier, whomever it was behind the wheel re-parked the car in another taboo spot — that of Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg. It was perfect.

It does raise an important question. Who was driving the car onto the field and how did he or she get the keys?

The Rays certainly don’t have valet at Spring Training, so did they rummage through his locker? Were the keys right on top?

No matter how it played out, if you’re Franco, you can’t help but laugh. It’s hilarious.

Franco, who is set to begin his first full season with the team, is currently riding a 43-game on-base streak. He is expected to explode this season, but if he keeps parking in Neander’s spot, he might find himself in some trouble!