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Wander Franco missed most of the Tampa Bay Rays' games in June due to a right quad strain. He spent the majority of the month recovering from the injury and played five games in the minors on a rehab assignment.
According to ESPN, the Rays shortstop was also the victim of a carjacking during his time playing with the Triple-A Durham Bulls.
Allegedly, 24-year-old serial burglar Kahlil Eugene Mathis used a wrench to break into Franco's Rolls-Royce Cullinan and stole $650,000 worth of jewelry. Mathis completed the carjacking at 3 a.m. on June 22, while the SUV was parked in a DoubleTree hotel parking lot in Jacksonville, Florida (per ESPN).
Police identified and arrested Mathis on July 4. They used the Arizona driver's license and thumbprint the burglar gave a pawn shop when he sold some of the stolen jewelry. Mathis was also wanted for three other car break-ins.
According to the arrest report obtained by ESPN, Mathis stole a $60 safe, which contained the jewelry, from the back of Wander Franco's car.
The most expensive of the items included “a $300,000 gold, diamond-crusted Cuban link chain and circle medallion with diamonds and a W in the center,” and “a $200,000 rose gold Cuban link chain with diamonds.” Mathis also stole five other pieces including a Rolex, two championship rings, and two pendants all ranging from $5,000 to $70,000.
The two Cuban link chains and a Rolex, worth $44,000, have not been recovered. However, police found the safe with the rest of Wander Franco's belongings in an apartment about six miles from the hotel.
