Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been arrested Monday and charged with “industrial sexual exploitation” after reportedly failing to look at a summons within the Dominican Republic final week.
Franco is being investigated underneath suspicion of getting a number of inappropriate relationships with minors.
The participant failed to indicate up on Dec. 28 for a gathering with a prosecutor who’s investigating him for an alleged relationship with an underage lady.
Wander Franco, #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays, seems on from the dugout throughout the third inning in opposition to the Oakland Athletics at Tropicana Discipline on April 08, 2023, in St Petersburg, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Pictures)
Prosecutors say that they’ve proof of the supposed relationship between the participant and the underage lady gleaned from postings on Franco’s social media.
Main League Baseball suspended Franco in August after the fees have been made within the Dominican. Nevertheless, he’ll nonetheless be paid his wage because the investigation continues. The league has not introduced whether or not it intends to self-discipline the participant additional.
Franco stopped touring with the crew in August after authorities introduced the investigation.
However he went lacking after a number of raids on his dwelling.
Shortstop Wander Franco, #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays, throws out Zack In need of the Detroit Tigers at first base throughout the sixth inning at Comerica Park on August 5, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. (Duane Burleson/Getty Pictures)
Now, in accordance with the Related Press, after Franco by no means confirmed up on the scheduled assembly on Monday, authorities took the participant into custody, the place he stays.
Franco at the moment has an 11-year extension price $182 million signed in November 2021. He final appeared within the MLB All-Star Gem final yr.
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