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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic after failing to show up for a scheduled meeting with prosecutors related to an investigation into an alleged misplaced relationship with a minor, according to reports.
Franco was summoned through the Dominican government last week and is scheduled to meet with the Special Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents in Santo Domingo on Thursday. He did not show up for the meeting, prompting a government raid on his home in Baní, according to the Associated Press.
Franco’s whereabouts were unclear until he arrived in Santo Domingo with his lawyers on Monday, according to the Spanish newspaper Diario Libre and other publications. Journalist Héctor Gómez first reported on Monday that the meeting with prosecutors led to Franco’s arrest.
ESPN reports that Franco was arrested specifically for his failure to appear last week and not because of advancements in the investigation into his alleged inappropriate relationship.
Diario Libre and Listin Diario also confirmed that Franco had been detained. Authorities also detained the mother of the minor who initially made the complaint, according to reports. What Franco is charged with was not initially clear. Gómez reports that Franco is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday and that prosecutors plan to ask for him to remain jailed without bail as the process continues.
Allegations that Franco was dating a minor first surfaced on social media in August. MLB launched an investigation, and the Rays placed Franco on the short list on Aug. 14. MLB placed him on administrative leave on Aug. 23. Match of the 2023 season on August 12.
An initial allegation that Franco was going on an off-kilter date was allegedly filed on July 17, before the allegations were made public on social media. ESPN reported on Aug. 30 that a second underage woman had accused Franco of going on an off-kilter date and that the government was investigating an alleged third party. The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old.
Franco, 22, was in the middle of his third MLB season when the allegations surfaced. He made his first All-Star in 2023 and hit 281/. 344/. 475 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 112 games. before his season ended in August. The Rays were swept in the first round of the 2023 playoffs by the eventual world champion Texas Rangers.
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021.