Tampa Bay Rays All-Star shortstop Wander Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence Thursday when he was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic, which could end his baseball career.
Franco, 24, who signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in 2021, will remain on Major League Baseball’s restricted list.
If he’s unable to secure a visa to work in the United States because of the guilty verdict, he won’t be able to play again in MLB. Even if Franco is able to obtain a visa in the future, the Rays could seek to have the remaining $133 million remaining on his contract voided based on violating moral turpitude.
MLB’s investigation remains open but if Franco never gets a visa, the league may consider it a moot point to even issue a punishment.
‘Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,’ MLB said in a statement. “We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.’
The minor informed the court that she had a sexual relationship with Franco when he was 21 years old. The mother of the victim, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was convicted of sexually trafficking her daughter and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Franco was placed on MLB’s restricted list in July 2024, 11 months after social media posts alleged that Franco had been in an inappropriate relationship with the minor since December 2022. Franco denied the allegations and he was on paid administrative leave until being put on the restricted list.
While Franco remains a free man, he was informed that if he violates any conditions of the court, he must serve his full two-year sentence. He is prohibited from approaching minors with sexual intentions.
Franco also faces charges in the Dominican Republic for illegal possession of a handgun after an altercation in a parking lot November, 2024, in San Juan de la Maguana.
Wander Franco contract
Wander Franco agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract before the 2022 season at the age of 20, having played just 70 MLB games at that point.
Wander Franco stats
- 2021: .288/.347/.463 – 7 HR, 39 RBsI in 70 games – finished third in AL Rookie of the Year voting
- 2022: .277/.328/.417 – 6 HR, 33 RBIs in 83 games
- 2023: .281/.344/.475 – 17 HR, 58 RBIs, 30 SB in 112 games – named to AL All-Star team
(This story was updated to include video.)