Franco flashes talent, Robertson goes hitless for Stone Crabs

Charlotte Stone Crabs shortstop Wander Franco (1) warms up on the field before the game against Clearwater Threshers on Thursday, July 25, 2019 in Clearwater. ALLIE GOULDING | TimesCLEARWATER - Rays fans in Pinellas County got their first live look at baseball’s top prospect when Wander Franco and the Charlotte Stone Crabs visited the Clearwater Threshers on Thursday night.

Franco, the No. 1 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline and FanGraphs, is an 18-year-old playing in a league where the average player is nearly 23. Since his promotion from class-A Bowling Green on June 25, the Rays shortstop phenom is hitting .354 with nine extra-base hits over 24 games in the advanced class-A…