Tampa Bay Rays baseball star Wander Franco formally charged with rape of a minor and human trafficking

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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, once considered baseball’s top young prospect, has been officially charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic.

Allegations of Franco’s inappropriate relationship with a minor surfaced last August. MLB placed him on administrative leave with pay. He has not played for the Rays since then, and the charges terminate his salary and service time accrual. Franco was in the third year of an 11-year, $182 million contract.

Franco, 23, was an All-Star in 2023. He was hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 58 RBI before the charges ended his season.

Nairobi Viloria, spokesman for the Dominican Republic’s attorney general’s office, confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday that prosecutors have submitted the final and formal charges to a judge.

The charges include the girl’s mother. Prosecutors said Franco paid her thousands of dollars to consent to the abuse, which allegedly lasted four months. The girl’s mother remains under house arrest and is accused of money laundering.

AP is not releasing the woman’s identity to protect her daughter’s privacy.

Franco is accused of rape, which could carry sentences of 10 to 15 years in prison, and human trafficking, which is punishable by sentences of 15 to 20 years in the Dominican Republic.

“We are aware of the charges against Mr. Franco,” MLB said in a statement Wednesday. “Our investigation is ongoing and we will continue to monitor the case closely as it progresses.”