Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday in the Dominican Republic after being questioned by prosecutors about complaints of inappropriate relationships with young girls, a person briefed on the proceedings told The Athletic.
Franco was being held ahead of a court date this week, according to reports from The Associated Press and ESPN, each citing an unnamed official from the prosecutor's office in Puerto Plata, a city on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic.
No criminal charges have been announced against Franco.
He is expected to appear before a judge on Wednesday to be arraigned Baseball journalist Héctor Gómezwho else posted a photo of Franco with his lawyers.
MLB and the Rays declined to comment Monday.
Franco, 22, faces at least two complaints accusing him of inappropriate relationships with minors, allegations that emerged over the summer. According to an ESPN report, Franco is also under investigation for allegedly having a relationship with a third minor, but the third girl has not spoken to authorities in the Dominican Republic, where Franco is from.
Franco denied the initial claim in an Instagram video.
Franco last played on Aug. 12 and was given what the team called a regular rest day the following day when the first allegation became public on social media. Franco agreed to be placed on the restricted list, which gave MLB time to launch an investigation. Franco was removed from the restricted list and placed on administrative leave on August 22 until further notice.
Franco has an 11-year, $182 million guaranteed contract with Tampa Bay – the largest in the organization's history.
(Photo: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)