Rays’ Wander Franco Arrested In DR For Incident In Which ‘Guns Were Drawn’ | Tampa Bay Rays

Police in the Dominican Republic have arrested Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco after an altercation involving firearms.

ESPN reported that authorities detained Franco and an unnamed woman for questioning on Monday following an incident in which “guns were drawn” in an apartment complex parking lot on Sunday.

Franco, 23, is already on indefinite administrative leave from Major League Baseball while awaiting trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor. Under his bail agreement on this sexual abuse charge, Franco is not allowed to leave the Dominican Republic but can travel within the country while he awaits his Dec. 12 trial.

Franco was in the midst of an All-Star season when he was placed on leave in August 2023 amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with a then 14-year-old girl. He hasn’t played for the Rays since. Franco reportedly faces up to 20 years in prison for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of minors and human trafficking.

Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in November 2021, just 70 games into his major league career. In 2021-23, he batted .282 with 30 home runs, 130 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 265 games.