Tampa Bay Rays SS Wander Franco arrested in Dominican Republic after altercation

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday in the Dominican Republic city of San Juan de la Maguana, located 100 miles west of Santo Domingo.

ESPN’s Juan Recio reported from police sources that Franco, 23, and an unnamed woman were involved in an “altercation” in the parking lot of an apartment building, and that guns were reportedly drawn during the incident. No further details are available as to what crime Franco committed; he and the unnamed woman are reportedly being held for questioning.

Franco is currently on MLB’s restricted list and on indefinite leave from the Rays due to allegations that he was engaged in a sexual relationship with a then-14-year-old girl. The league had originally placed him on administrative leave on Aug. 22, 2023, while investigating him under the league’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list in July after prosecutors in the DR announced that the shortstop had been charged with human trafficking, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor; he has not played for the Rays since Aug. 12, 2023.

Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in November 2021 after playing just 70 MLB games. Despite not playing for the Rays and being forbidden from leaving the Dominican Republic, he continued to receive his salary and accrue service time while on administrative leave from Aug. 22 through July 2024, Franco stopped receiving his salary and accruing service time when the Rays placed him on the restricted list in July.

Franco’s trial in the DR is set for Dec. 12. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

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