In a shocking turn of events, Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco did not travel with the team to San Francisco as Major League Baseball (MLB) investigates social media posts regarding the rising star. The 22-year-old shortstop was noticeably absent from his teammates on the Rays' team plane as they headed to San Francisco for their upcoming series against the Giants, which starts on Monday evening. According to reports, the posts, which have since been deleted on X (formerly Twitter), emerged on Sunday and alleged that Franco was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

The Rays released a statement acknowledging the situation and stating that MLB is looking into the posts and allegations. "During today's game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco," the statement read. "We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence." The team did not provide details on the specific allegations made in the posts.

Franco did not play in the Rays' 9-2 loss to the Guardians on Sunday, but manager Kevin Cash claimed it was a planned rest day. When asked about the speculation surrounding Franco, Cash refused to comment further, stating, "I'm aware of the speculation, and I'm not going to comment any further on that. The day off was because it was a day off."

Interestingly, Franco started Sunday's game in the Rays' dugout but left in the fifth inning. This coincided with the team's promotion at Tropicana Field, which was the Wander Franco Snapback Hat for fans 14 and under. It was supposed to be a day of celebration for the young star, but instead, it was marred by controversy and uncertainty.

Franco, an American League All-Star in his third MLB season, has been a standout player for the Rays. He currently boasts an impressive slash line of .281/.344/.475 with a .819 OPS, 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases. In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year contract worth $182 million, with a team option for 2033 that could potentially increase the total value to $223 million. At the time of his call-up in 2021, he was ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball by MLB pipeline.

This is not the first time Franco has faced controversy within the Rays clubhouse. Earlier this season, he was benched for two games due to his response to frustrating situations and allegedly not being the best teammate. However, the current situation involving the social media posts is on a whole different level, potentially tarnishing the young star's reputation and casting a shadow over his promising career.

As MLB conducts its investigation and gathers more information, Franco's absence from the team and the serious nature of the allegations will undoubtedly be closely followed by fans, analysts, and the baseball community as a whole. The outcome of this investigation could have far-reaching implications for Franco's future in the league and the reputation of the Tampa Bay Rays organization.