MLB and the Dominican’s Attorney General are investigating allegations into Wander Franco and whether he has had an inappropriate relationship with one or two minors.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco is reportedly under investigation by a special division in the Dominican Republic. According to Martín Adames Alcántara of the Associated Press, a division that specializes in minors and gender violence is investigating his alleged relationship with a minor.
Peravia prosecutor Ángel Darío Tejeda Fabal said the case is assigned to The National Agency for Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence Unit.
“Next week, we might be able to give some of the necessary information without hurting the investigation,” he said.
Franco has been linked to an inappropriate relationship with a second underage girl, in his native Dominican Republic, according to the Dominican newspaper Diario Libre. Franco, an All-Star shortstop this season, has been away from the team since Sunday and is on the restricted list as MLB investigates social media posts alleging he was involved in a relationship with a minor.
Franco appeared to deny the allegations circulating on social media in a video on Instagram Live.
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Via The Tampa Bay Times, Franco claimed people “don’t know what they’re talking about” when denying the accusations in an Instagram Live post on Sunday.
“They say that I’m in public with a little girl, that I’m running around with a minor,” Franco said in Spanish in the social media video. “People don’t know what to do with their time. They don’t know what they’re talking about.
“That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody.”
Franco is batting .281 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .819 OPS, and 30 stolen bases this season. Franco is under contract with Tampa Bay through 2032 with a club option for 2033.
