Wander Franco DENIES ‘running around with a minor’: Viral video emerges showing Rays star dismissing claims he is dating young girl after Tampa Bay benching 22-year-old shortstop over allegations
- Franco denied on Instagram that he had a relationship with an underage girl
- Rumors about the alleged relationship with the underage woman came to light on Sunday
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Shortstop Wander Franco has denied dating an underage Dominican girl in the wake of viral allegations.
Rumors surfaced on X, the social media platform known as Twitter, when the 22-year-old from Sunday’s lineup was held against the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field.
Franco held an Instagram live stream refuting the allegations and accusing the public of making up stories. It is unclear when he posted the video online.
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years.
‘They say I’m hanging out with a young girl, that I’m walking around with a minor. How crazy is that, dude? People don’t know what to do with their time. Go and see,” he said in Spanish.
“Those people need to move. One is focused here, doing my thing, you see, thanks to God. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and I don’t interfere with anyone because people gossip so much.’
Rays teammate José Siri later walks into the recording yelling that it’s just “people out for money.”
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Wander Franco held an Instagram livestream session refuting allegations that he had been in a relationship with an underage girl, allegedly in the Dominican Republic. Rumors of the alleged relationship surfaced ahead of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians for which he was benched
Wander Franco reportedly did not join Tampa Bay on the team’s flight to San Francisco after Sunday’s game, sources told ESPN, according to the network’s baseball writer Jeff Passan. The Rays released a statement Sunday night confirming Major League Baseball is investigating social media rumors surrounding the 22-year-old and a minor he allegedly dated
Tampa Bay confirmed Sunday night that Major League Baseball is investigating the social media posts.
DailyMail.com has been unable to confirm whether Franco shot the video before or after Rays’ 9-2 loss to the Guardians on the day the club ran a Wander Franco Snapback Hat giveaway for fans aged 14 and under who attended.
Tampa Bay confirmed Sunday night that Major League Baseball is investigating the social media posts.
“During today’s game, we were made aware of the social media reports circulating about Wander Franco,” the team said in a statement. “We are taking the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.”
ESPN baseball reporter Jeff Passan reported that sources told the network that Franco did not travel on the team’s flight to San Francisco, where they begin a three-game series Monday night.
The source said there is a possibility of Franco being placed on the restrictive list or on administrative leave.
Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco is soaked by teammates after Friday night’s walkoff home run against the Cleveland Guardians. He also played in Saturday’s win but was kept out of Sunday’s game ‘to get him on his feet’, said Rays manager Kevin Cash
Before the game, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said the team gave Franco to “get him on his feet.” He hit a ninth-inning, walk-off homer to beat Cleveland on Friday night and was on the field for the win over the Guardians on Saturday.
He said he was aware of the rumors surrounding the star of the club during the match.
“I am aware of this speculation,” Cash said. ‘I’m not going to comment further on that. But the day off was because of (of) the day off.’
Franco was selected to the All-Star Game for the first time this year, coming in on Sunday batting .281 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI.
Wander Franco was drafted from the Dominican Republic by Tampa Bay in July 2017 as an international free agent. In November 2021, he signed a $182 million 11-year contract extension. The Rays have a club option for 2033 – the deal can go up to $223
It’s not the first time Franco’s maturity has been questioned this season by the Rays, who are three games behind the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles.
Tampa Bay held him out of two straight games in July after questioning his behavior around his teammates and how he handled his frustration.
He was also involved in a heated dugout brawl with fellow All-Star Randy Arozarena in late May.
Franco was signed out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent in July 2017 and committed to an 11-year contract worth $182 million in November 2021.
Tampa Bay can exercise a team option for 2033, which could push the deal up to $223.