Former Rays shortstop Wander Franco was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor and psychological abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic for a sexual relationship he had with a 14-year-old when the budding MLB star was 21 years old. It was a second trial after Franco was found guilty of the same charges in June 2025, when he received a two-year suspended sentence. The victim's mother is serving 10 years in prison for soliciting her daughter to Franco, then blackmailed Franco with threats to expose the relationship.
Franco will serve no jail time after Monday's second conviction, after the judge issued a judicial pardon, though the convictions stand.
Major League Baseball will now render its verdict on Franco's future. The league said it would wait until the judicial process was concluded before rendering its independent investigation findings and any related discipline. Franco is currently on the league's Restricted List. He is technically still under contract with the Rays. His last MLB action was in August 2023, when he was pulled from a game by the Rays after hearing the Dominican Republic had issued a warrant for his arrest.
Regardless of what MLB determines, Franco will unlikely secure a work visa in the United States, with a sexual abuse conviction against a minor.
My take: Permanent ban from MLB. Simple. Take no chances. Both trials found Franco knew the victim was underage — age of consent in the Dominican is 18 — and willingly participated in a sexual relationship with her. Disgusting that he has no consequence in his home country. I don't care about the blackmail, it's even worse that he knew the victim's mother was pimping her out.
THE ASYLUM
Franco avoids prison
Former Rays shortstop Wander Franco was convicted of sexual abuse of a minor and psychological abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic for a sexual relationship he had with a 14-year-old when the budding MLB star was 21 years old. It was a second trial after Franco was found guilty of the same charges in June 2025, when he received a two-year suspended sentence. The victim's mother is serving 10 years in prison for soliciting her daughter to Franco, then blackmailed Franco with threats to expose the relationship.
Franco will serve no jail time after Monday's second conviction, after the judge issued a judicial pardon, though the convictions stand.
Major League Baseball will now render its verdict on Franco's future. The league said it would wait until the judicial process was concluded before rendering its independent investigation findings and any related discipline. Franco is currently on the league's Restricted List. He is technically still under contract with the Rays. His last MLB action was in August 2023, when he was pulled from a game by the Rays after hearing the Dominican Republic had issued a warrant for his arrest.
Regardless of what MLB determines, Franco will unlikely secure a work visa in the United States, with a sexual abuse conviction against a minor.
My take: Permanent ban from MLB. Simple. Take no chances. Both trials found Franco knew the victim was underage — age of consent in the Dominican is 18 — and willingly participated in a sexual relationship with her. Disgusting that he has no consequence in his home country. I don't care about the blackmail, it's even worse that he knew the victim's mother was pimping her out.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!