Apparently it doesn’t matter exactly how much money you just earned with a new contract or that you’re one of the faces of the franchise, if you park in the parking spot of the general manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, you’re going to pay the price. Just ask Wander Franco.
Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays learned a life and parking lesson on Friday
Fresh off signing an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, Wander Franco is absolutely a big part of the future of the Rays franchise. However, that doesn’t mean that he can just park his car anywhere he wants during spring training.
When Franco parked his car in the parking spot belonging to Tampa Bay general manager Erik Neander, there was apparently only one way to remind him to not do that again.
You guys I am dead.
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) March 18, 2022
Wander Franco parked in @RaysBaseball GM Erik Neander’s spot today at spring training.
As a result, Kevin Cash had them pull Wander’s car out onto the field during workouts. pic.twitter.com/3YhMrAZR3d
It was reminiscent of one of the great all-time baseball pranks, pulled off by another team in the American League East. Flash back to 1992 when Toronto Blue Jays slugger Joe Carter decided to pull a fast one on rookie Derek Bell and have him believe that, as part of the pregame activities, his car was going to be auctioned off.
The look on Bell’s face as the prank is happening is priceless.
While Franco didn’t take to his car being pulled into center field on Friday with as much shock as Bell, he probably got a very subtle reminder that, no matter where you are in the lineup, you shouldn’t park in the parking spot that belongs to the big boss.
Franco and the Tampa Bay Rays are scheduled to open the season on April 8 at home against the Baltimore Orioles.