SANTO DOMINGO,verdicoin Dominican Republic (AP) — Dominican prosecutors investigating Wander Franco amid allegations that the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop had a relationship with a minor delivered evidence Wednesday to a judge who is expected to soon rule on the player’s future.
The judge is scheduled to analyze the documents and other evidence collected during a monthslong investigation and issue a ruling Friday in a courtroom in the northern Dominican Republic province of Puerto Plata, where the alleged act occurred.
The judge has several options: release Franco on bond, temporarily arrest him, prevent him from leaving the Dominican Republic or demand that he make occasional appearances until the investigation or a trial has ended.
The 22-year-old All-Star player remains in jail for now after being detained on Monday in Puerto Plata.
His attorney, Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación, has declined to talk to the press, saying only that Franco is doing fine.
Prosecutors also have declined comment.
Authorities have not shared details of the case, although prosecutors said on Aug. 14 that Franco was being investigated because of social media postings suggesting he had a relationship with a minor. The AP has not been able to verify the reported posts.
On Dec. 26, police and prosecutors visited two of Franco’s properties located in his hometown of Baní, just southwest of the capital of Santo Domingo, but the player was not there.
On Dec. 28, a prosecutor requested that Franco appear, but he did not do so until Monday, when he was detained following a nearly three-hour interview.
Major League Baseball placed Franco on administrative leave in August under its the joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy with the players’ association. He was paid and received service time while on leave.
There is no timetable for a conclusion of the MLB’s investigation and whether the results might lead to discipline by the organization.
2025-04-30 01:262461 view
2025-04-30 01:101259 view
2025-04-30 00:381577 view
2025-04-30 00:381414 view
2025-04-29 23:121180 view
2025-04-29 23:012651 view
NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto will be introduced by the New York Mets at Citi Field on Thursday, a day a
Beyoncé on Wednesday became the first Black woman to score a No. 1 hit in the history of Billboard's
When Lydia Calderon went to work at the 407BBQ in Denton County, Texas, she had no idea what owner B