The Tampa Bay Rays arrived in San Francisco without All-Star Wander Franco, who will miss the team’s series against the Giants this week at Oracle Park as Major League Baseball looks into social media posts involving the 22-year-old shortstop.
The posts, which went viral Sunday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, allege that Franco has been involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor in his home country of the Dominican Republic.
Monday morning, the Rays in a statement said they and Franco “have mutually agreed that he will go on the Restricted List and take leave from the Club for the duration of the current road trip.”
The Tampa Bay Rays and Wander Franco have mutually agreed that he will go on the Restricted List and take leave from the Club for the duration of the current road trip.
— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) August 14, 2023
Franco, one of the brightest young stars in the game, did not play in Sunday’s 9-2 home loss to Cleveland, and did not accompany the team to San Francisco for the start of a three-game series against the Giants that begins tonight. He also will miss at least the Rays’ weekend series in Los Angeles against the Angels before being eligible to come off the restricted list.
Authorities in the Dominican Republic have begun an investigation into the allegations, according to a statement Monday from the office of the attorney general. It was not immediately clear if Franco had retained an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Franco has expressed his innocence to teammates, according to a report in The Athletic, but agreed that being around the team would be a distraction. Franco also Franco denied the allegations in a live Instagram video he shot from inside the Rays clubhouse on Sunday.
In the video, Franco, speaking in Spanish, said: “They say that I’m in public with a little girl, that I’m running around with a minor. People don’t know what to do with their time. They don’t know what they’re talking about. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody … because people gossip and talk smack.”
Someone off camera said “people always looking to get money,” to which Franco responded: “You tell ‘em.”
Tampa Bay first addressed Franco’s status following the game Sunday — which coincidentally followed a ballpark promotion offering a Wander Franco Snapback Hat for fans 14 and under — but did not detail the nature of the social media posts. At the time, the club, in a release, said, “During today’s game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco. We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.” Franco will be paid during his time on the restricted list.
“We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation,” the club said later Monday of the MLB investigation. “Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time.”
Manager Kevin Cash told reporters before Monday night’s game against the Giants that, “we’ve issued a statement, I think it’s probably best for me to stand behind that, not really comment, and really try to get our focus on a big series here against the Giants.”
Tampa Bay entered Monday second in the American League East, three games behind the Baltimore Orioles, and atop the AL wild-card standings.
Sunday, Franco arrived at Tropicana Field about three hours before the game with at least one other player, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He was seen in the dugout in the early innings but left around the fifth and did not return. He was not in the clubhouse after the game, the Times reported.
Later Sunday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Franco did not travel on the team plane to San Francisco for the series that begins tonight at Oracle Park.
Osleivis Basabe started at shortstop on Sunday in the 22-year-old’s major league debut. Basabe, who went 1 for 3 with a double, learned he was being brought up during his game Saturday night with Triple-A Durham.
After the game, Cash was asked whether there was any issue with Franco not playing other than a regular day off. Cash replied: “No.”
“I’m aware of the speculation, and I’m not going to comment any further on that,” Cash said. “The day off was because (it was) a day off.”
Franco was benched for two games in late June by the Rays for how he has responded to frustrating situations and not being the best teammate at times.
Tampa Bay signed Franco to an $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021, a deal with a team option for 2033 that could be worth $223 million.
Franco, an AL All-Star this season, is hitting .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBIs and is 30 for 40 in stolen base attempts in 112 games.
The Associated Press’ Mark Didtler contributed to this report.
Source: www.mercurynews.com