Dominican Republic authorities carry out raids in search of Rays star Wander Franco
Authorities in the Dominican Republic are searching for Wander Franco.
As reported in Listín Diario, the nation’s oldest newspaper still in circulation, the Santo Domingo Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents conducted two raids in Franco’s hometown of Baní, in the Peravia province, on Tuesday in search of the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, but didn’t find him. Police vehicles and officials were seen at Franco’s home as well as his mother’s. The authorities left contact information with Franco’s wife, neighbors told Listín Diario.
On August 13, social media posts alleged that Franco, 22, had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl. Major League Baseball opened an investigation that night, and the Rays announced that they’d mutually agreed he’d go on the restricted list the following day. Authorities in Peravia opened their own investigation into the matter. The league placed him on administrative leave the following week.
By the end of the month, three women had accused Franco of engaging in relationships with them when they were still minors and he was over 18, the age of consent in the country. Doing so can result in criminal charges.
Though Franco was reinstated to the Rays’ 40-man roster at the beginning of the offseason, the transaction was purely procedural, and the league’s and authorities’ investigations continued.
“New evidence has been found in the case of Wander Franco that further implicates him in the accusations that have been made against him of alleged relationships with minors,” wrote Hector Gomez, sports editor of popular DR radio station and digital newspaper Z101 Digital, on X (formerly Twitter).
Franco was only 20 when he made his MLB debut against the Red Sox on June 22, 2021. He is married and shares two children with his wife.
The Rays, who signed Franco to an historic 11-year, $182 million extension in November 2021, have yet to comment.