Wander Franco ‘told underage girl “I took the risk and I loved it”‘ after shock allegations of improper relationship with a 14-year-old first emerged in disturbing new claims about $182m Tampa Bay Rays MLB star
Text messages that MLB star Wander Franco allegedly sent to the 14-year-old girl with whom he is accused of having an inappropriate relationship have been released in a bombshell report.
According to ESPNTampa Bay Rays star Franco told her he risked his career by getting involved with the teen, saying in Spanish: “My girl, if my team realizes this, it could cause problems for me. It’s a rule for all teams that we can’t talk to minors, and yet I took the risk and I loved it.”
The message was apparently sent after allegations of Franco’s behavior appeared on social media.
ESPN says it has obtained a 600-page document that was presented to the judge by prosecutors at a hearing this month.
Franco’s lawyer has questioned the legitimacy of the dossier and criticized the fact that it was leaked.
Disturbing claims have been made about Wander Franco’s alleged inappropriate relationship
MLB star Franco allegedly told the girl he was “taking a risk and I loved it” when the claims were made
Franco, 22, is being investigated in the Dominican Republic for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor
“There are serious questions about the authenticity of certain documents and references in the plaintiff’s confidential file, which was improperly disclosed to certain media outlets,” said Franco’s U.S.-based attorney Jay Reisinger.
“We are in consultation with Mr. Franco’s legal counsel in the Dominican Republic and we intend to take appropriate legal action in response.”
The document also claims that Franco and the girl first met online in 2022 and began a four-month relationship starting in December 2022.
When things became tense between them, Franco messaged her on WhatsApp when he heard she was seeing someone else.
Franco is said to have written: ‘I would like you to forget everything you learned to raise you in my way.’
She wrote back, “And what is your way? Without love? Without respect?’
Franco replied, “There was more to it, but you’re just a girl and you don’t know how to deal with me, that’s why you failed, but I’ll only give you one chance, you have to be there just for me.” Don’t look at anyone, I know you’ve been with someone else, but no one will know how to use you the way I want.”
After the allegations against Franco came to light, he took to Instagram live to deny them, but has not spoken publicly since. He also hasn’t played for his Rays team, with whom he signed an 11-year, $182 million deal.
Franco signed an 11-year deal with MLB team Tampa Bay Rays worth a whopping $182 million
Major League Baseball is also investigating the allegations and Franco was on administrative leave last August.
Franco, 22, posted $35,000 bail and left jail earlier in January. He also faces allegations that he gave the girl, her mother, thousands of dollars and a car in exchange for her consent.
The minor girl, who has not been named for legal reasons, told investigators from the Dominican Republic that her mother took advantage of her relationship with Franco for her own benefit.
“Since I was little, my mother has seen me as a way for her to take advantage of both the partners she has had and my partners, and it is something I really hate,” the minor said, according to a court document obtained by the Dominican Republic. news broadcast Noticias Sin.