Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has reportedly been arrested in the Dominican Republic over allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
Franco was interrogated by prosecutors in Puerto Plata on Monday, according to MLB insider Hector Gomez. After being questioned, he was taken into custody.
On wednesday, Wander Franco will be taken in front of a judge to be arraigned, according to lawyer @FelixPortes the prosecutors are expected to ask for wander to remain in Jail with no bail as the process continues. https://t.co/I8ChB4oLVh
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 1, 2024
According to Gomez, Franco will be arraigned on Wednesday, and prosecutors are expected to ask that he be held without bail.
Franco, the Rays’ All-Star shortstop, was facing two separate investigations alleging that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, leading to him being placed on paid administrative leave by the team in August. There had been signals that the investigation was intensifying, with Dominican authorities raiding two homes in search of the player last week. Franco was also summoned to appear before authorities, but he failed to do so, at least initially.
When the allegations first surfaced, there were some claims that Franco’s MLB career may be in jeopardy due to the seriousness of them. If Dominican authorities are seeking to hold him without bail, that would certainly back that up.
