According to a report, the Tampa Bay Rays have begun clearing Wander Franco’s likeness from Tropicana Field.
Franco was placed on administrative leave by MLB on Tuesday as the investigation into his alleged relationships with underage girls continues.
Franco has not played since the allegations surfaced and amid the 22-year-old’s absence from the ballpark, the Rays began the process of removing his image from around Tropicana Field. That reports the Tampa Bay Times.
A poster outside the stadium in St. Petersburg, Florida, showing Franco, is said to have been replaced by a poster of infielder Yandy Diaz.
An elevator pack featuring the shortstop was also reportedly traded for one belonging to pitcher Pete Fairbanks.
The Tampa Bay Rays have begun clearing Wander Franco’s effigy from Tropicana Field
The franchise has reportedly started trading posters of Franco for other players
A poster outside the stadium is said to have been replaced by a poster of infielder Yandy Diaz
The purge extends to the Florida ballpark area with a neighboring sports bar, Ferg’s, also reportedly planning to tear down signs featuring Franco.
Franco’s disappearance from the public eye of the Rays began over the weekend, when he was reportedly removed from television advertising.
Clips of the All-Star shortstop have featured prominently in a number of advertisements this season, but not during Friday night’s victory over the Angels.
It is alleged that the Rays Up commercial, featuring a brilliant catch from Franco, recently aired during Wednesday’s game against the Giants, but was not used on Friday.
The centerpiece of the ad features Franco grabbing the ball out of the air with his bare hand against the Astros in April, while the voiceover hails “some Wander magic.”
The same catch appeared to have been removed from another promo by the time it aired again Friday night.
Franco is facing an investigation back home in the Dominican Republic, with claims his Major League Baseball career could be over. The country’s attorney general’s office confirmed allegations have been made by at least two minors.
Major League Baseball has launched its own investigation, with Franco – who denies the allegations – reportedly turning to prominent sports lawyer Jay Reisinger.
Posters of Rays stars hang over an entrance to the baseball field in St. Petersburg
Rachelly Paulino, 21, was Wander Franco’s childhood sweetheart and they married in 2021, but the baseball star has never publicly mentioned her name
He was initially placed on the seven-day restricted list last week, but with his stint set to end before Tampa Bay’s opening game against Colorado on Tuesday night, he was placed on administrative leave while the MLS continued its investigation.
“Under an agreement between MBL and the MLBPA, Wander Franco has been placed on administrative leave until further notice while the MLB continues its ongoing investigation,” the statement said.
“The administrative leave, effective immediately, is not disciplinary under the Joint Policy on Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence and Child Abuse. We will comment further in due course.”
In 2015, MLB and the players’ association agreed to a joint domestic violence policy. This allows a player to be placed on administrative leave for seven days, but allows MLB to request extensions during the investigation.
A player continues to receive wages and accrue major league service while on administrative leave.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer was on administrative leave from July 2, 2021, until the following April 29, when he was suspended for 324 games.
Franco bought a $1.55 million five-bedroom house in an upscale Tampa neighborhood in May this year. He has an 11-year contract to play for the Tampa Bay Rays, but there is now doubt that he will ever play in the MLB again
The penalty was reduced to 194 games by an arbitrator. Bauer was charged with assault, an allegation he has repeatedly denied.
Franco will earn $2 million this season and next season as part of an 11-year, $182 million contract that begins in 2022.
He is in his third big league-season and hit .281 with 17 homeruns, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts in 112 games.
Eighteen players have been disciplined by the MLB under its domestic violence policy. The last was New York Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero, who on July 5 agreed to a suspension for the final 76 games of the season.