MLB shortstop Wander Franco charged with sexual abuse of 14-year-old

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was formally charged Tuesday with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic.

Six months after a judge ordered an investigation into Franco for sexual and psychological abuse of the girl, prosecutors filed charges against him.

Nairobi Viloria, spokesman for the Attorney General’s Office, confirmed to the Associated Press that prosecutors had submitted the final and formal charges to a judge, but Viloria declined to provide further details.

The charges also refer to the girl’s mother. According to prosecutors, Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars to get her to agree to the four-month relationship. The girl’s mother remains under house arrest. The AP is not releasing the woman’s name to protect her daughter’s privacy.

Four days after the original deadline of July 5, prosecutors decided to file charges.

Franco, 23, is on leave until July 14 due to an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

Administrative leave is not a disciplinary action under the sport’s common policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, and a player continues to receive his salary. Franco, who is earning $2 million this year, has remained in the Dominican Republic while authorities investigate.

“We are aware of the charges against Mr. Franco,” MLB said in a statement Wednesday. “Our investigation is ongoing and we will continue to closely monitor the case as it progresses.”

Tampa Bay’s All-Star shortstop has not played since August 12. Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021.

Jay Reisinger, Franco’s U.S.-based attorney, said Tuesday he could not comment because Franco had not received formal notification of any charges.