Tampa Bay Rays and All-Star shortstop Wander Franco agreed that he might be positioned on the restricted listing Monday, only a day after allegations surfaced on social media that he dated an underage woman.
The staff stated in an announcement that the 22-year-old has agreed to take a depart of absence.
Franco is not going to be with the staff through the San Francisco street journey because the Rays start a three-game collection in opposition to the Giants on Monday evening.
In addition, he may also miss Tampa Bay’s three-game set this weekend in Anaheim.
The Rays can change Franco, who was chosen for his first All-Star Game this season. Under MLB’s Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy, the Commissioner’s Office can place an accused participant on paid administrative depart for as much as seven days whereas an investigation takes place.
Major League Baseball is investigating the incident, Tampa Bay stated within the assertion.
We assist any steps the league is taking to raised perceive the scenario. “Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time.”
The Attorney General’s Office of the Dominican Republic is investigating the allegations, information channel Noticias Telemicro reported.
The investigation is led by Justice of the Peace Olga Diná, who oversees the National Directorate of Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family.
The Tampa Bay Rays introduced Monday that the group and Wander Franco had mutually agreed to place him on the restricted listing, a day after a rumor circulated on social media that he was allegedly courting an underage woman within the Dominican Republic. Republic.
Tampa Bay will return residence for a three-game collection in opposition to the Colorado Rockies on August 22 for a weekend showdown with the New York Yankees, and it’s unknown if Franco will then rejoin the staff.
The mutual resolution to half methods comes after viral allegations on social media linked the Rays celebrity to a younger woman in his native Dominican Republic on Sunday earlier than the staff took to the sphere for the collection finale in opposition to the Cleveland Guardians.
Franco addressed the rumors with a stay stream on Instagram and denied that he was in a relationship with a minor. The age of consent within the Dominican Republic is eighteen years.
‘They say I’m hanging out with a younger woman, that I’m strolling round with a minor. How loopy is that, dude? People don’t know what to do with their time. Go and take a look,’ Franco stated in Spanish.
“Those people need to move. One is focused here, doing my thing, you see, thanks to God. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and I don’t interfere with anyone because people gossip so much.’
Rays teammate José Siri later walked into the recording exclaiming that it’s just “people are out for money.”
ESPN Deportes reporter Enrique Rojas stated on Monday’s Grandes En Los Deportes radio present, which airs within the Dominican Republic, that the stay Instagram taping occurred forward of Sunday’s sport, that includes a Wander Franco Snapback Hat giveaway for followers aged 14 and below who have been pending.
Tampa Bay star All-Star shortstop Wander Franco is soaked after hitting a walkoff residence run Friday evening to beat the Cleveland Guardians. He gained on Saturday, however was not within the lineup for Sunday’s collection finale.
Wander Franco was chosen to his first MLB All-Star Game this season. He hits .281 with 14 residence runs and 58 RBI
During his pregame media availability, Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Cash advised reporters that he left Franco out of the lineup.
Before the sport, Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Cash stated the staff gave Franco to “get him on his feet.” He hit a ninth-inning, walk-off homer to beat Cleveland on Friday evening and was on the sphere for the win over the Guardians on Saturday.
He stated after the match that he was conscious of the rumors surrounding the membership’s star.
“I am aware of this speculation,” Cash stated. ‘I’m not going to remark additional on that. But the break day was due to (of) the break day.’
Franco hits .281 with 14 residence runs and 58 RBI, and his absence will create a niche within the lineup for a Rays staff that began three video games behind the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles on Monday.
But the Rays have already handled him being away from the staff – sitting on the bench for 2 consecutive days in July after the staff questioned his conduct round his teammates and the way he dealt with his frustration.
He was additionally concerned in a heated dugout brawl with fellow All-Star Randy Arozarena in late May.
Franco was signed out of the Dominican Republic as a global free agent in July 2017 and signed him to a $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021. Tampa Bay can train a staff possibility for 2033, which may develop the deal to $223.
