Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic and received a suspended two-year prison sentence Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Franco will not have to spend any time behind bars as long as he meets the conditions set by the judge, which primarily require him not to approach minors with sexual intentions. Passan notes that because Franco was found guilty, it would be difficult for him to obtain a work visa in the United States and resume his playing career with the Rays or any other team in Major League Baseball. So long as Franco remains on the Rays' restricted list, Tampa Bay won't be required to pay out any salaries from the 11-year, $182 million contract he signed in November 2021. MLB's own investigation into Franco remains active, and he could be subject to further discipline under the league's domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Verdict coming Thursday
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A verdict in Franco's trial in the Dominican Republic is expected to be announced Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Franco is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking, as well as illegal possession of a gun. He remains on Major League Baseball's restricted list as MLB performs a concurrent investigation of the 24-year-old.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Charged with gun possession
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Franco -- who is currently on trial in the Dominican Republic on charges including sexual abuse of a minor -- was charged Sunday with illegal possession of a gun,
The latest charge stems from a Nov. 10 altercation during which police found a gun in Franco's vehicle. A concurrent investigation of Franco is being performed by Major League Baseball under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The 24-year-old signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021 but last played in August 2023 and won't receive a salary or accrue MLB service time while he remains on MLB's restricted list.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Trial postponed
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Franco's (personal) trial has been postponed from Dec. 12 to June 2, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports.
A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled that several key witnesses were not located in time to proceed on the originally schedule date. Franco -- who is facing charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking -- is on MLB administrative leave and hasn't seen the field since August of 2023.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Facing firearm charge
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Franco (personal) is facing charges of illegal use and possession of a firearm related to his arrest in an altercation in the Dominican Republic on Sunday, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports.
Franco is expected to be granted provisional release Tuesday, although terms of his bail have not yet been defined. The 23-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and is due to stand trial on Dec. 12 in the Dominican Republic involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. A concurrent investigation of Franco is being performed by MLB under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Arrested following altercation
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Franco (personal) was arrested in the Dominican Republic on Monday following an altercation Sunday during which guns were drawn, Juan Recio of ESPN.com reports.
Franco is being held for questioning and it's not yet clear whether he faces charges as a result of the incident. The 23-year-old is on MLB administrative leave and is due to stand trial on Dec. 12 in the Dominican Republic involving charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. If convicted, Franco faces up to 20 years in prison. MLB is also performing a concurrent investigation of Franco under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Goes on restricted list
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The Rays will place Franco (personal) on the restricted list Wednesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Franco had previously spent the entirety of the season on administrative leave, but MLB granted the Rays' request to move the 23-year-old to the restricted list after he had charges formally filed against him by prosecutors in the Dominican Republic on Tuesday. According to Marc Topkin and Juan Carlos Chavez of the Tampa Bay Times, Franco faces charges of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor as well as human trafficking, the latter of which carries a 15-to-20-year prison term if convicted. Major League Baseball isn't expected to issue any disciplinary action for Franco until the legal process is completed, but he won't accrue MLB service time or receive a salary while he's on the restricted list.
Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have made a joint agreement to extend Franco's stay on administrative leave through July 14, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
An agreement between the parties was originally reached prior to Opening Day, but the original term was set to end June 1. Authorities have until July 5 to make any charging decisions against Franco, which could provide some additional context for his availability for this season and beyond.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Placed on administrative leave
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Franco was placed on administrative leave Thursday through an agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The transaction removes Franco from the Rays' 40-man roster and is effective through June 1. The stay could end sooner than that if there are any developments in Franco's investigation or could be extended if there are none. Because he is on administrative leave and not the restricted list, Franco will be paid his $2 million salary.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Likely barred from entering U.S.
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Franco is likely to be barred from entering the United States while facing charges of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering in the Dominican Republic, two immigration attorneys told Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Franco was released from custody in the D.R. and is free to leave the country, but he must return once a month to appear before authorities while the legal process plays out. However, the U.S. government has the ability to revoke Franco's visa on the grounds he could be considered a threat to public safety. Even if that doesn't happen, the chances that Franco would attempt to travel to the U.S. are "minimal," attorney Javad Khazaeli told Rosenthal. Franco, 22, is being investigated in the Dominican Republic over allegations he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and gave her mother 100,000 Dominican pesos per month to maintain a "dating relationship," per court documents obtained by The Athletic. A conviction would be an aggravated felony under U.S. immigration law, resulting in a permanent ban from the United States.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Detained in Dominican Republic
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Franco was arrested by authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com report.
The arrest is due to the fact that Franco failed to appear at a summons last week. Franco appeared voluntarily Monday with his new lawyers as he was questioned regarding allegedly having had a relationship with a minor. The 22-year-old will be presented before a judge within 48 hours of his arrest and in the meantime will remain in the custody of the Puerto Plata Prosecutor's Office. In addition to being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic, Franco is also being investigated by Major League Baseball.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Meets with authorities in D.R.
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Franco met with authorities in the Dominican Republic on Monday, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He no-showed after a summons last week, but evidently that was because Franco had fired his former lawyers and they were unable to present the summons to the shortstop. Franco has since hired new representation and they were present at Monday's meeting. The 22-year-old is being investigated by police in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball for alleged inappropriate relationships with minors.
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Rays' Wander Franco: No-shows after summons
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Franco failed to respond to a summons filed in the Dominican Republic to address allegations that he had inappropriate relationships with minors, Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN.com reports.
Franco had been summoned by the Specialized Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents for questioning Thursday morning. At least two people have filed legal action against the Rays shortstop and, according to Recio, Franco is also under investigation for an alleged third relationship with a minor. Additionally, the Associated Press has reported that he recently fired his legal team. To this point, no criminal charges have been filed against Franco. Even if that remains the case, he is likely facing a suspension from Major League Baseball.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Back on 40-man amid investigation
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Franco was activated Thursday from administrative leave, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
This is merely a procedural move, as administrative leave is only applicable during the season and the World Series came to an end Wednesday. Franco is still under investigation from both authorities in the Dominican Republic and Major League Baseball following allegations that emerged this summer involving inappropriate relationships with minors. Topkin notes that Franco's "status to return to playing remains unchanged and uncertain."
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Rays' Wander Franco: Placed on administrative leave
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Franco was placed on administrative leave Tuesday by Major League Baseball under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
He had been on the restricted list in a mutual agreement between the Rays and the player, but Franco has now been shifted to administrative leave as the league and authorities in the Dominican Republic continue their investigations into his alleged inappropriate relationships with minors. Franco doesn't have a set length for his stay on administrative leave, as MLB can typically extend it on a week-by-week basis until the investigations have been completed. Franco will continue to be paid and accrue service time while on leave.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Goes on restricted list
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The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list Monday, and the shortstop will take a leave from the team for the duration of their six-game road trip this week.
In a statement, the Rays noted that the decision to place Franco on the restricted list was mutually agreed upon by the club and the player as Major League Baseball opens up an investigation regarding social media posts made about the 22-year-old over the weekend. Franco's leave could extend beyond this week, pending the results of the investigation.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Not traveling with team
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Franco won't travel with the Rays on the team plane ahead of their upcoming series in San Francisco, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
The Rays and MLB are investigating social media posts made about Franco over the weekend, and it appears as though the shortstop will at least be unavailable to begin the team's road trip to the West Coast. Manager Kevin Cash called Franco's absence from Sunday's lineup an off day, and the team declined to comment on Franco not traveling on the team plane. It's possible Franco is placed on the restricted list or administrative leave while the investigation proceeds.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Gets breather Sunday
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Franco isn't in the Rays' lineup Sunday against the Guardians.
After going 1-for-5 with three strikeouts during Saturday's game, Franco will take a seat Sunday while Osleivis Basabe gets the start at shortstop to make his MLB debut.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Cranks walk-off home run
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Franco walloped a walk-off home run in Friday's 9-8 victory over the Guardians.
The Rays' bullpen blew a three-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Franco saved their bacon by depositing Nick Sandlin's third pitch of the bottom of the frame over the right-field wall. It was the first walk-off home run of Franco's young career. He also added two singles, a walk and his 30th stolen base of the season in this one. Now with 17 long balls on the year, Franco has an excellent shot at a 20-30 campaign.
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Rays' Wander Franco: Three hits, homer in loss
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Franco went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to St. Louis.
Franco has been on a tear of late, going 10-for-16 (.625) over his previous four games while belting five homers in his last 10 contests. Overall, Franco's slashing .277/.342/.466 with 16 homers, 62 runs scored, 54 RBI and 29 stolen bases across 477 plate appearances in his age-22 campaign.
