SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — Suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been detained by police and admitted to a mental health clinic in his hometown of Baní, according to authorities. The request for his admission came from his family, as confirmed by police spokesman Col. Diego Pesqueira. He emphasized that Franco's detention and clinic stay are not linked to any ongoing legal issues.
The 24-year-old player recently took to social media to report an alleged theft of $16,000 from a resort where he was staying. However, his attorney, Teodosio Jáquez, indicated that there was confusion regarding the situation and that the money had been located. Franco, on the other hand, firmly rejected his attorney's comments, maintaining that the funds had indeed been stolen.
In June 2024, Franco was convicted for the sexual abuse of a minor and received a two-year suspended sentence. The charges against him stemmed from an accusation of engaging in a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and allegedly transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to secure consent for the unlawful relationship.
Despite his legal troubles, Franco has expressed his desire to keep training, but his future in Major League Baseball (MLB) remains uncertain. In November 2021, he signed a lucrative 11-year, $182 million contract, but his professional career faced significant disruption in August 2023 when Dominican authorities announced they were conducting an investigation into him.
Franco was arrested for a second time in November 2023 following an alleged altercation related to a woman's attention. During this incident, he was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 firearm, which was reported to be registered to his uncle. The case remains pending in court.
Following his 2024 arrest, Tampa Bay Rays placed Franco on the restricted list, which resulted in the suspension of his salary while he was on administrative leave. The team's decision was driven by Franco's failure to report back to the organization and the necessity of obtaining a new U.S. visa.
As the story continues to unfold, Wander Franco's personal and professional life remains under scrutiny. His legal battles and struggles with mental health indicate a complicated future, both on and off the baseball field.
