ESPN reports that Wander Franco, a former Major League Baseball player, was convicted on Thursday of sexually abusing a juvenile in the Dominican Republic.
In 2023, his last season in Major League Baseball, Franco, a former shortstop with the Tampa Bay Rays, was selected to the MLB All-Star team.
According to ESPN, he was sentenced to two years in prison with a suspension. At the age of 21, Wander Franco was convicted of having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old.
According to ESPN, Franco will not be sentenced to further time in prison unless he violated specific rules, such as refraining from having sexual relations with minors.
Despite not being on an active roster, Wander Franco is still bound by his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays because he is now on the MLB’s restricted list. The Rays are exempt from paying his salary while he is on the restricted list.
In 2021, the 24-year-old agreed to a $182 million, 11-year contract with the Rays. ESPN reports that Franco’s conviction will probably make it difficult for him to obtain a work visa in the US.
Franco may face additional disciplinary action from Major League Baseball, which is still looking into his case. The MLB issued a statement following Franco’s conviction.
According to ESPN, Major League Baseball said in a statement that it is pleased to have a Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy that was cooperatively negotiated and represents our dedication to these matters. We will wrap up our inquiry when it is fit, taking into account the Wander Franco trial’s verdict from today.
According to ESPN, in August 2023, Wander Franco was accused of having an inappropriate interaction with a teenage girl in social media messages. Franco was put on paid administrative leave notwithstanding his denial of the accusations.
He was then added to MLB’s restricted list after being charged with sexually abusing a minor in July 2024.
According to the prosecution, Franco met the 14-year-old girl online and had two sexual encounters with her in December 2022. He would supposedly dispatch automobiles or helicopters to come get her and take her to his house. Approximately $82,000 in cash was discovered by authorities during a raid on the girl’s residence.
After being named the best Major League Baseball prospect, Wander Franco played with the Rays from 2021 to 2023.
Over the course of the three seasons, he played in 265 games for Tampa Bay, hitting.282 with 30 home runs and 130 RBIs.
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