Wander Franco ‘is placed on administrative leave until June 1’ as the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop stands accused of having sexual relationship with a girl, 14, and paying off her mother in the Dominican Republic

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has reportedly been placed on administrative leave amid criminal proceedings over his alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Franco, 23, is accused in his native Dominican Republic of sexually and psychologically abusing a 14-year-old girl, who allegedly had a relationship with the teen and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent.

Franco, who was initially suspended by the Rays, has now been placed on administrative leave until June 1 under an agreement between the MLB and the MLBPA, according to ESPN.

His status could reportedly change depending on developments in the case in the Dominican Republic.

Originally charged with commercial and sexual exploitation and money laundering — charges that could carry 30 years, 10 years and 20 years in prison, respectively — Franco is now charged in lieu of sexual and psychological abuse, according to a judge’s resolution that The Associated Press recently obtained. month.

23-year-old Franco is accused of sexual and psychological abuse of a 14-year-old girl

He allegedly had a relationship with the teenager and paid her mother for her consent

Franco has not been formally charged, but if found guilty of the new charges, he could face a prison sentence of two to five years.

Franco was unable to report to spring training with the Rays on February 18 – the deadline prior to the team’s first official practice.

According to the Tampa Bay Timesthe rest of the Rays’ position players reported for practice on the 18th in advance of practice the next day.

MLB’s “mandatory reporting date” was February 24, which also came and went without an official decision being made on Franco’s status before the start of the season.

Franco was initially placed on the restricted list on August 14, in the middle of the Rays’ playoff run.

A week later, he was placed on administrative leave by MLB as his seven-day stint on the restricted list was about to end.

He was reinstated to the 40-man roster on November 2 as a procedural move, as MLB said administrative leave is not in effect during the offseason, which technically began after the conclusion of the World Series.

Now, on opening day of the 2024 season, with the Rays kicking off their campaign against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, Franco’s administrative leave has been extended until June 1.

Franco was unable to report to spring training with the Rays on February 18 – the deadline prior to the team’s first official workout

Franco has been away from the team since mid-August, when the allegations first emerged.

According to prosecutors and testimony from the girl and other members of her family, Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars in cash and other gifts in exchange for the mother’s consent to engage in a sexual relationship with her daughter.

The Code for the Protection of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, Law 136-03 in the Dominican Republic, considers sexual abuse to be any relationship between a minor and a person five years older. Franco started a relationship with the girl when she was 14 and he was 21.

Although he has not been formally charged, as part of the conditions of his bail he must report to court in the Dominican Republic once a month.

With charges still pending, it was unclear whether Franco would enter the United States if he attempted to enter the country on his work visa.

By setting a deadline of June 1, the MLB and MLBPA have given two months for any developments within the investigation in the Dominican Republic.

If there are no changes to his status before that date, the two sides will likely meet again to decide whether to extend his stay on administrative leave, place him on the restricted list or consider other options.

A player will continue to receive wages and accrue Major League services while on administrative leave.

Franco has been away from the team since mid-August, when the allegations first emerged

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.

The punishment was reduced to 194 games by an arbitrator. Bauer was charged with assault, a charge he has repeatedly denied.

Franco is expected to make $2 million this season as part of an 11-year, $182 million contract that starts in 2022.

Including Franco on their 40-man roster could have limited the Rays’ offseason moves.