MLB Star Wander Franco Arrested in the Dominican Republic for Alleged Relationship with Minor

The Public Ministry of the province of Puerto Plata, in the Dominican Republic, will have until this Wednesday to request a measure of coercion against the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, after allegedly having a romantic relationship with a minor.

The information was published by the Dominican media Diario Libre this Tuesday.

On Monday, Franco was arrested after an interview with the prosecutor’s office investigating this case. The minor’s mother was also arrested.

Franco appeared at the prosecutor’s office accompanied by two lawyers days after he did not show up for a meeting with prosecutor Olga Diná Llaverías.

The star player is suspended with pay since August 2023 by the Major League Baseball (MLB) office under the terms of the policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse agreed upon by the league and the Players Association (MLBPA). , for its acronym in English). In fact, rumors about the alleged affair began that same month with posts on social media.

The player and the Rays signed an 11-year, $182 million agreement in November 2021. The contract includes a 2033 option that could raise the deal to $223 million. He completed his third season in the Majors in 2023, which he closed with a batting record of .281, with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs and 30 steals in 112 games.

Below we present a chronology of the events of this case that has shaken Dominican society and MLB.

2023

August 13 – Publications surface on social media alleging that Franco, 22, had had an inappropriate relationship with a minor. After going viral, the Rays issue a statement stating that they are investigating the messages involving the player.

Franco did not play in the Rays’ 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians that day.

August 14: The Rays report that they have agreed to place the shortstop on the restricted list, adding that “he will be away from the club during the current road trip,” which included three games against the Giants and three against the Los Angeles Angels.

August 15: The Dominican media Diario Libre announces that the authorities of that country are investigating Franco after publications on social networks. The media added that the authorities warned that the case was more complicated because apparently the 17-year-old girl who filed a complaint against the siore is not the same one with whom he was involved in the networks.

August 16: A prosecutor from the Dominican Republic states that the investigation into the shortstop’s alleged relationship with a minor is being carried out by a division specialized in minors and gender violence in the province of Peravia.

September 20: The Rays confirm that they do not have Franco for the postseason.

December 26: Dominican authorities go looking for Franco in two properties he owns in the Dominican Republic and cannot find him. The investigators warned the people they found in the houses that the player should appear at the Public Ministry offices accompanied by a lawyer for an interview.

December 28: Dominican prosecutor Olga Diná Llaverías requested Franco’s presence, after he was not found in his two residences in the city of Baní.

2024

January 1: Franco is arrested in his native country after an interview with the prosecutor’s office investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. The athlete appeared accompanied by two lawyers days after he did not show up for a meeting with prosecutor Diná Llaverías.

⚖️ |#JusticiaDL| His lawyers say they know nothing about the investigation into the Major League player because they have not been notified.

????https://t.co/ZTet3OcbHq#FreeDiary #WanderFranco #Investigation pic.twitter.com/nbmiD2DQAI

— Diario Libre (@DiarioLibre) January 1, 2024

2024-01-02 18:28:52
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