Rays SS Wander Franco has timetable for surgery, recovery

Shortstop Wander Franco will not be with the Tampa Bay Rays for some time as he recovers from a hand injury he suffered this past weekend. At the very least, though, both Franco and the Rays now have an idea of how long he'll be out.

ESPN is reporting that Franco will undergo surgery this Tuesday to repair a fractured hamate bone in his right hand. The subsequent recovery will cost Franco five to eight weeks of big-league play.

Losing Franco for potentially two months is a big deal for the Rays, who currently sit at 45-40. Though they are 15.5 games behind the juggernaut known as the New York Yankees in the cutthroat American League East, Tampa should be in a heated race for the Wild Card with clubs like the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and others moving forward from the All-Star break.

Franco currently boasts a .260 batting average and an OPS of .704. He has five home runs and 23 RBI on the season.