- Wander Franco is expected to appear before a judge on Wednesday to be arraigned
- Prosecutors will reportedly ask that the MLB star remain in jail without bail
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Wander Franco was reportedly arrested in his native Dominican Republic after being questioned by prosecutors over an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor.
On Monday, Franco was arrested in Puerto Plata after finally visiting authorities investigating the case.
Accordingly Hector Gomez, the MLB star will appear before a judge on Wednesday to be arraigned. Prosecutors are expected to ask Franco to remain in jail without bail while the case continues.
Last week, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop saw his home searched by police searching for him. He was ordered to meet with authorities from the Special Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents in the city of Santo Domingo on December 28.
Local newspaper Listin Diario posted a video on social media showing officials waiting for the MLB star and listing him as a no-show. Agency director Olga Dina Llaverias later confirmed that Franco was a no-show.
Wander Franco was reportedly arrested after questioning in the Dominican Republic
Franco is being investigated over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor
However, on Monday, Dominican magazine Diario Libre published a picture of the Tampa Bay Rays player with his lawyers after their appearance at the prosecutor's office.
The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list — and then on paid administrative leave — back in August when MLB opened an investigation into social media posts that suggested Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
Franco has denied the allegations and addressed them on his Instagram account at the time.
“They say that I'm with a young girl, that I'm out there walking around with a minor,” Franco told his teammates in Spanish during his live broadcast. “How crazy is this, dude?” People don’t know what to do with their time.
“These people need to move.” One of them is focused here and doing my thing, thank God. “That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anyone because people are so talkative.”
The Tampa Bay Rays signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years.
Tampa Bay signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. The deal includes a team option for 2033 that could be worth $223 million.
Franco has since been moved to Tampa Bay's active roster because administrative leave is not possible during the offseason. He could still return to administrative leave when spring training begins.
Franco, first drafted in 2021 as one of the most hyped prospects in recent years, played 112 games and was an All-Star for the first time in 2023.
Wander Franco “was arrested in the Dominican Republic after questioning by prosecutors for alleged relationship with a minor… and the MLB star is due to appear before a judge THIS WEEK”