Reports suggest that Wander Franco's career in Major League Baseball (MLB) may be over due to allegations of inappropriate relationships with underage women. According to a source close to the investigation, it is "very unlikely" that Franco will play in MLB again. The source states, "It will be very unlikely that Wander Franco will play in MLB again, judging by the results of the investigations that are currently being carried out." The investigations directly implicate him in the accusations against him. The news was first reported by H?©ctor G??mez, a Dominican reporter, on X, formerly known as Twitter. G??mez was the one who initially broke the news of Franco's 12-year, $223 million extension with the Rays in 2021.

The allegations against Franco involve his inappropriate relationships with underage women in the Dominican Republic. MLB and officials in the Dominican Republic are currently investigating the claims made in since-deleted social media posts. Franco has been away from the Rays since Sunday as the investigations continue. On Tuesday, a second underage girl came forward, alleging a relationship with Franco. The Dominican newspaper Diario Libre reported that a 17-year-old girl filed a complaint against Franco in July. These allegations were in addition to the ones made on social media.

Franco denied the allegations in a video posted on Instagram Live. In the video, he addressed the accusations, stating, "They say that I'm in public with a little girl, that I'm running around with a minor... 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." Despite his denial, the investigations are ongoing.

Franco, a former No. 1 overall prospect, has been one of the best players in MLB this season. He has an impressive .819 OPS with 17 home runs and 30 stolen bases, tying him for the eighth-best Wins Above Replacement (WAR), according to FanGraphs. His absence from the Rays' lineup will undoubtedly have an impact on the team's performance.

The Rays organization, however, is determined to focus on the remaining players and not let the situation become a distraction. Baseball operations president Erik Neander stated, "Our 26-man active roster right now is not the one we started the season with... I think over time, players learn to control the things they can control and keep their attention where it needs to be." The team is confident in the resiliency and professionalism of the active players.

Rays manager Kevin Cash echoed Neander's sentiments, stating, "It's a good group... We've been playing pretty good baseball. Let's see if we can continue that." Cash believes that even without Franco, the team can continue their successful season.

The allegations have caused significant attention and controversy for the Rays. The team is currently 72-49, trailing the Orioles by two games in the AL East. They hold the AL's first wild card spot. The outcome of the investigations will have a significant impact on the team's future and Franco's career. The Rays have expressed their support for the league's investigation and have placed Franco on the restricted list during the process.