Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been under investigation for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor, was arrested on Monday after meeting with prosecutors in the Dominican Republic. According to a government official with knowledge of the case, Franco spent nearly three hours being questioned at the Puerto Plata province prosecutor's office. The arrest came after Franco failed to appear for a scheduled appointment with prosecutor Olga Dina Llaveras last Thursday.
Authorities had previously searched two of Franco's homes in Ban?, about 40 miles from the capital, Santo Domingo, on December 26, but he was not found. The investigation into Franco began in August after social media postings suggested that he was involved sexually with an underage girl. The prosecutor's office revealed that Franco may be connected to three or more minors, with two of them having already filed lawsuits against him.
In response to the allegations, Major League Baseball (MLB) placed Franco on paid administrative leave and launched its own independent investigation. The league has not provided a timeline for the conclusion of its investigation or the potential disciplinary actions that may follow. Under Dominican law, Franco is entitled to a hearing before a judge within 24 hours of his arrest.
Franco, who is two years into an 11-year, $182 million contract, has not made any public statements regarding the allegations. His attorney declined to comment on the matter. The Tampa Bay Rays have also refrained from commenting on the specific allegations but have expressed their support for MLB's decision to suspend Franco.
On the day of the scheduled meeting with the prosecutor, Franco did not appear, raising questions about the involvement of his current legal team. It was revealed that Franco had dismissed his previous lawyers, Luz D?az Rodr?guez, Rosalina Trueba, Cristian Cabrera, and Manuel Rodr?guez. Franco's U.S.-based lawyer, Jay Reisinger, did not provide any comments regarding the situation.
Despite Franco's absence, Prosecutor Olga Dina Llaver?as stated that the investigation would continue. Dominican prosecutors and police had also visited one of Franco's properties in Ban? but were unable to locate the 22-year-old player to request his testimony.
The case has garnered significant attention due to Franco's status as an All-Star player and his promising career in the MLB. The outcome of both the Dominican Republic's investigation and MLB's independent inquiry will have significant implications for Franco's future in professional baseball.
