The MLB is finding out some rather disturbing news regarding one of their star players and a minor child. The news first surfaced on Monday and has started to go viral in the hours since.
Here are the disturbing details.
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MLB Superstar Found Guilty Of Disturbing Crimes
A Dominican judge ruled on Monday that Wander Franco was criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but he will not be sentenced to prison.
According to the judge, Franco had been subjected to blackmail and extortion from the minor’s mother, who had been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking:
“It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and, at the same time, exempt him from punishment,” Núñez said. “The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one.”
The judge justified the judicial pardon as a “logical and legal reasoning.”
Franco was arrested in January 2024 after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.
Upon leaving the courthouse together with his lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, Franco responded briefly to reporters’ questions by saying, “I feel calm,” and urging his fans to “keep supporting me and trusting me.”
According to Franco, he has not contacted the Tampa Bay Rays directly, but his lawyers have:
“We respect the legal process and the decision issued by the court,” the Rays said in a statement to multiple outlets. “This is a serious matter, and our thoughts remain with those affected by the case.
The Rays will continue to cooperate fully with Major League Baseball as it completes its review under the league’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Out of respect for the legal process and all parties involved, we will have no further comment at this time.”
Wander Franco’s MLB Stats
Franco has spent his three year MLB career with the Rays. Here is a look at his stats thus far:
- 265 career games
- 1,143 plate appearances
- 1,037 at bats
- 162 runs scored
- 292 hits
- 130 RBIs
- 30 home runs
- .282 batting average
