Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop Wander Franco has been put on administrative leave as the investigation into his alleged relationships with underage girls continues.
The 22-year-old’s seven-day stay on the restricted list would end before Tampa Bay’s opener against Colorado on Tuesday night. He hasn’t played since allegations of inappropriate relationships surfaced on social media earlier this month.
On Tuesday morning, the MLB confirmed they had placed Franco in administrative league as the league continued its investigations. Authorities in the Dominican Republic, where the player is from, are also investigating the allegations.
“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.”
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop Wander Franco has been placed on administrative leave
Rachelly Paulino, 21, was Wander Franco’s childhood sweetheart and they married in 2021, but the baseball star has never publicly mentioned her name
The Rays also released a statement following the news, saying, “We support Major League Baseball’s decision to place Wander Franco on administrative leave.
“The Tampa Bay Rays are committed to maintaining high standards of integrity both on and off the field. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our fans and supporters as this process unfolds.
“We will not make any further comment on this matter until the MLB has completed its process.”
There are reports that Franco’s major league baseball career could be over. The Attorney General’s Office in the Dominican Republic 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.
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.
There are reports that Franco’s major league baseball career could be over
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.
Franco has always kept his mystery wife out of the spotlight and never mentioned her in interviews — but last week, DailyMail.com revealed she is 21-year-old Rachelly Paulino.
The Rays said in a statement: ‘We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as they conduct their due diligence’
Both Franco and Paulino are from Bani, a city of 62,000 on the southern coast of the Dominican Republic
The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop married Paulino after the 2021 MLB season.
Franco has never publicly mentioned Rachelly’s name, although the 22-year-old All-Star proudly bragged about his namesake, first son Wander Samuel Franco Jr., who was born in 2018.
The couple welcomed another son in 2022, and DailyMail.com revealed that Franco purchased a $1.55 million five-bedroom house in an upscale Tampa neighborhood in May of this year.
Reports last week claimed that Franco had been removed from television advertising amid the allegations. aaccording to the Tampa Bay TimesCThe lips 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.
Meanwhile, baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz has been trying to reach out to the 22-year-old.
“When I heard about this situation, I tried to make myself available to Wander to see how I could help him, because I really wanted to know what was going on with that kid,” Ortiz said in Grandes En Los last week. Deportes.
The Boston Red Sox legend said he previously served as shortstop during Seattle’s Midsummer Classic festivities in July.
“I talked to Wander for a long time during the All-Star Game. I really liked him because he’s a good kid, like all young people,” Ortiz said. “But the mission of someone as a veteran is to guide those children, not to trample or mistreat them.”