MIAMI — The Tampa Bay Rays’ Wander Franco is facing a second formal complaint for having an inappropriate relationship with a minor, according to a report from ESPN on Wednesday afternoon, citing unnamed sources.
A special prosecutor in the Dominican Republic has been investigating two prior claims against Franco, only one of which has been made by a victim who was willing to speak to authorities. Per ESPN’s report, the third girl has not spoken to authorities in the Dominican Republic, where Franco is from.
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Franco denied the initial allegation in an Instagram video but has not commented since. When reached, Franco’s attorney Jay Reisinger declined to comment.
Major League Baseball also had no comment as it continues its own investigation into whether Franco violated the sport’s collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. MLB’s probe is running concurrently with the Dominican Republic’s, but the league will likely wait for the D.R. investigation to conclude before finishing its own.
Franco last played on Aug. 12 and was given what the team deemed a regular off day the following day, which is when the first allegation became public on social media. The Rays kept him off the team plane to San Francisco and Franco agreed to go on the restricted list, which gave MLB time to launch an investigation into whether there was enough preliminary evidence to place Franco on administrative leave. Franco was taken off the restricted list and placed on administrative leave on Aug. 22 until further notice.
Administrative leave is not an admission of guilt and is not considered discipline. Any discipline, such as a potential suspension, would come later in the process.
Franco is on an 11-year, $182 million guaranteed contract with Tampa Bay — the largest in the organization’s history — and is still the top player, by WAR, on the Rays roster. The Rays entered Wednesday’s game 81-52, two games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East.
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18, meaning anyone who is over 18 who engages in sexual activity with a minor can face criminal charges. Even if Franco is not charged in his home country, it does not preclude Franco from facing punishment from the league, as the joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse policy gives the commissioner power to suspend a player independent of legal authorities.
(Photo: Douglas P. DeFelice / Getty Images)
