Weeks earlier than his sexual-abuse trial is scheduled to start out, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested within the Dominican Republic in reference to an altercation allegedly involving weapons, native officers mentioned Monday.
Authorities seized a pair of firearms — together with one presumably belonging to Franco — following the incident in a San Juan de la Maguana car parking zone, in keeping with a police spokesman.
Franco, 23, and one other man allegedly engaged within the dispute over a lady. Franco, a person and a lady had been all detained, in keeping with authorities.
Police arrested Franco on Sunday, simply over a month earlier than he’s set to face trial on Dec. 12 for fees stemming from an alleged relationship with a feminine minor.
In July, Franco was charged in his native Dominican Republic with sexual abuse, sexual exploitation towards a minor, and human trafficking in that prior case and faces as much as 20 years in jail.
He was positioned on the league’s restricted listing in July after he was formally charged, that means he would not obtain pay, as he had whereas he was on administrative depart.
As soon as considered one of baseball’s fastest-rising stars, Franco reached an 11-year, $182 million contract in 2021 in what was a uncommon long-term mega-deal for the small-market Rays.
The switch-hitting Franco batted .282 with 30 residence runs, 130 RBI, 40 stolen bases and a .795 OPS via 265 profession video games and was an American League All-Star final 12 months, however he has not performed since Aug. 12, 2023, because of the allegations.
“Serious charges,” Rays supervisor Kevin Money mentioned in July earlier than a recreation towards the Yankees in Tampa. “Very regarding. Most likely finest that I don’t remark a lot previous that, and preserve our focus right here on this staff. “
With Information Wire Companies
