The MLB season has been pretty crazy so far. Between the pitcher injuries, the surprise emergence of some teams as contenders, and the Los Angeles Dodgers destroying everyone, things have been pretty crazy so far. However, lost in the chaos is the case of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco.
As a refresher, Wander Franco got in trouble after he was accused of having inappropriate relations with a minor from Dominican Republic a few months ago. The MLB placed the Rays shortstop on administrative leave as law enforcement took over the investigation of the case. Since then, things have been pretty silent with regards to his case.
However, on Friday, an update was released regarding Wander Franco's status. The Rays shortstop's administrative leave was initially set to expire on Saturday. With the investigation still ongoing, the MLB has decided to extend Franco's leave until July 14, per ESPN.
“Major League Baseball and the MLB Players' Association have extended Wander Franco's administrative leave through July 14, a procedural move to buy more time for new developments to materialize in a potential criminal case, a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN on Thursday.”
Dominican Republic officials have until July 5 to file a formal complaint against Wander Franco. The Rays shortstop was placed on leave towards the end of the 2023 after the initial accusations were made.
The initial charge was supposedly money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation. However, these allegations were dropped to “just” sexual and psychological abuse. That's still a serious charge, but the punishment is still pretty damn big.
Wander Franco's accusations, explained
The accusations against Wander Franco started in December last year. Initially, the accusation was lobbied by the parent of a 14-year-old girl from the Dominican Republic.
The claim was that the Rays shortstop started an inappropriate sexual relationship with the minor. In order to appease the girl's family, Franco reportedly gave cash gifts, as well as a car, in order to gain their “consent.”
Almost immediately, Franco was placed on administrative leave by the MLB as Dominican Republic officials investigated the case.
As for the MLB itself, the commissioner's office will likely conduct their investigation until after the official police investigation is dropped. The league still has a chance to extend the leave further should there be new developments in the case of the Rays star.
Franco was one of the best young shortstops in the league. With his immaculate hitting and his prowess with the glove, the Rays shortstop became a crucial figure in the ascent of the team. He was a big part of that legendary streak that Tampa Bay went on to start their 2023-24 season.
Whether Franco returns or not, the Rays are in the middle of a slump right now. They are 28-29, with the playoffs in a bit of a slump. How much of this is due to Franco's absence can't be measured, but it has surely had an effect on their performance. We'll see how this team tries to bounce back this season, with or without Franco.
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