Rays’ Wander Franco On Administrative Leave, Investigated For Underage Relationship

The Tampa Bay Times reports that shortstop Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays was taken off the team’s 40-man roster on Thursday and placed on administrative leave till June 1. The MLB Players Association and MLB jointly made the decision.

Since the initial reports of his alleged improper contact with a kid arose in August of last year, Franco has not been affiliated with the Rays. Although an investigation is still ongoing in Franco’s own Dominican Republic, he has not yet been charged with a crime. Franco is required to appear in court once a month until June 30, unless the issue is settled before.

Rays’ Wander Franco On Administrative Leave, Investigated For Underage Relationship

After he was the focus of a Dominican Republic inquiry into claims he had an improper interaction with a juvenile, the league placed Franco on administrative leave in August of last year, where he stayed for the entire 2023 season.

The Rays then took a procedural step and restored Franco because the administrative leave designation is only valid for the duration of the season.

After being detained for one week on January 1, the 23-year-old was allowed to leave jail on a conditional release.

Prosecutors presented about 600 pages of evidence in January, demonstrating that Franco had a romantic relationship with a 14-year-old girl and had given her mother money and a car in return for her approval. Franco was charged with money laundering and “commercial sexual exploitation” by the prosecution.

Since January, there have been no further developments, and there is no set timeline for the investigation’s or the case’s resolution. Franco’s administrative leave status might change while the issue is being resolved.

Prosecutors claim Franco started seeing a fourteen-year-old girl and had intercourse with her in December 2022, according to Passan and colleague Juan Arturo Recio. In an alleged exchange, he said that their connection “could cause problems for me” if the Rays found out.

He responded to her, according to Passan and Recio, saying, “I took the risk and I loved it, even though it is a rule for all teams that we cannot talk to minors.”

It is said that Franco gave the child and her mother presents and cash in exchange for their remaining silent about their connection. As to the ESPN report, the mother of the girl is accused of money laundering.

Franco’s official removal from the roster is accomplished largely through a paper move—putting him on administrative leave. There is no administrative leave during the offseason, so he had to be put back on it on Opening Day after being placed on it in August of last year.

Franco skipped spring training, partly due to the uncertainty surrounding his ability to enter the country on his work visa while facing accusations.

How many career hits does Wander Franco have?

Career Stats
Season Team H
2021 TB 81
2022 TB 87
2023 TB 124
MLB Career – 292

Has Wander Franco been an All Star?

Stroll Born on March 1, 2001, Samuel Franco Aybar, well known by his nickname “El Patron,” is a Dominican professional baseball shortstop who plays for the Major League Baseball (MLB) Tampa Bay Rays. 2021 saw his MLB debut, and 2023 saw him become an All-Star.

When did Wander Franco get called up?

One of the most anticipated prospects in recent memory, Franco was called up for the first time in 2021. He played a career-high 112 games and made his All-Star debut in 2023.

 

 

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