Is Wander Franco Involved With An Underage Girl Who Filled Case Against Him?
According to a source in the Dominican Republic attorney general’s office, the Rays player Wander Franco has been connected to inappropriate contact with a second underage girl in his home country, according to the Dominican publication Diario Libre.
According to Diario Libre, a 17-year-old girl made the accusation against Franco, 22, in July.
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This season’s All-Star shortstop Franco has been out of the lineup since Sunday and is currently on the restricted list as MLB looks into social media allegations that claim he was dating a minor.
According to Diario Libre, the minor who complained in July is not the one who is allegedly connected to Franco’s social media remarks that brought about the MLB probe.
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On Monday, the Dominican Republic attorney general’s office informed the AP that it was also looking into the situation.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Franco appeared to refute the accusations making the rounds on social media on Sunday in a video posted to Instagram Live.
“They say that I’m in public with a little girl, that I’m running around with a minor,” In the footage posted to social media, Franco spoke Spanish. “People don’t know what to do with their time. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
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“That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody.”
In the Dominican Republic, 18 is the minimum age required for consent.
The official MLB investigation got underway on Monday.
In a statement, the Rays said that “support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation.”
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According to the Tampa Bay Times, Franco was put on the restricted list while the inquiry was ongoing and will still be paid.
He did not participate in the Sunday home series finale versus the Guardians at Tropicana Field, nor did he travel with the Rays to San Francisco on Monday night to begin a six-game road trip.
On August 22, the Rays will host the Rockies in their home stadium after wrapping up their current road trip, which included three games against the Giants and three games against the Angels.
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“We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation,” the club said later Monday of the MLB investigation. “Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time.”
