It has been more than four months since Wander Franco left the Tampa Bay Rays amid allegations that surfaced on social media of an inappropriate relationship with a minor in his native Dominican Republic. Franco is scheduled to go in front of a judge Friday morning in the province of Puerto Plata, according to the Associated Press.
Prosecutors in the Dominican have accused Franco and the minor’s mother with commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The latter charge is the result of payments allegedly made by Franco to the mother. Prosecutors have requested that the judge impose bond of five million pesos (roughly $86,000) and that Franco be prevented from leaving the country and be placed under house arrest.
Prosecutors have requested the minor’s mother be prevented from leaving the country and be placed under house arrest.
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Upon reviewing documents and evidence collected during the investigation, the judge can release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him and prevent him from leaving the country. The investigation might also drag on and with the judge requiring that Franco make appearances until the case has concluded. The case could also be dismissed should the judge determine there is not sufficient evidence for it to continue.
The 22-year-old Franco, who was arrested Monday after failing to appear for a meeting with a prosecutor, last played for the Rays on August 12 against visiting Cleveland. He left the dugout during the next day’s game, which he was not in the lineup, when the allegations surfaced.
Franco was placed on the restricted August 14 and placed on administrative leave by MLB on August 22. That placed the shortstop under MLB control during the investigation, a move made with the players’ union’s blessing and is part of a joint MLB/MLBPA domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Franco continued to be paid – he signed an 11-year, $182-million deal in November 2021 – and accrue service time during his absence.
Franco, who hit .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 112 games while earning an all-star game appearance, sat out the first two games of a four-game series against Kansas City at Tropicana Field in June. Manager Kevin Cash said Franco was “learning and dealing with the challenges of being a major league player and some of the challenges that come with it.”
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