Wander Franco ‘under investigation after third accusation of relationship with minor in Dominican Republic’
- MLB All-Star Wander Franco has denied the allegations against his name
- This is now the second formal complaint to DR authorities, according to the ESPN report
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Ray’s shortstop Wander Franco is being investigated by a “special prosecutor” in his native Dominican Republic over a second formal complaint – third in total – alleging that he had an affair with a minor, according to ESPN.
A first complaint was filed against Franco on July 17 and as a source cited by the four-letter newspaper says another girl claimed she was in a relationship with the MLB player.
The report says DR prosecutors will speak with the 22-year-old in the coming weeks.
Franco was placed on administrative leave by MLB on Tuesday as the investigation into his alleged relationships with underage girls continues.
He hasn’t played since the allegations surfaced and amid the 22-year-old’s absence from the ballpark, the Rays began removing his likeness from around Tropicana Field. That reports the Tampa Bay Times.
The Tampa Bay Rays have begun clearing Wander Franco’s effigy from Tropicana Field
Rachelly Paulino, 21, was Wander Franco’s childhood sweetheart and they married in 2021, but the baseball star has never publicly mentioned her name
Franco is facing an investigation back home in the Dominican Republic, alleging that his career in Major League Baseball 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.
Franco held a livestream on Instagram earlier this month refuting the allegations and accusing the public of making up stories. It is unclear when he put the video online.
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years. Under the MLB’s Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, the commissioner’s office can place an accused player on paid administrative leave for up to seven days while an investigation takes place.
‘They say I’m in a relationship 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 have a look,” he said in Spanish.
“Those people need to move. One is focused here and doing my thing, you see, thanks to God. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anyone, because people gossip so much.’
Rays teammate José Siri later walked into the recording exclaiming that it’s just “people out for money.”
There are reports that Franco’s major league baseball career may now be over
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.
A prosecutor in the Dominican Republic said earlier this month that the investigation into the All-Star shortstop’s alleged relationship with a minor is being handled by a department that specializes in minors and gender violence in Peravia province.
Angel Darío Tejeda Fabal, a prosecutor in Peravia, told the Associated Press on Wednesday that the investigation into Franco has opened under the direction of the National Agency on Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence.
He said the investigation is at an early stage and will be chaired by Judge Olga Dina Llaverias, a child abuse specialist.