A judge in the Dominican Republic on Thursday ordered shortstop Wander Franco to stand trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor, per reports.
From his courtroom in Puerto Plata, Judge Pascual Valenzuela ruled there was enough evidence against Franco to warrant a trial. No date was set for what will be a bench trial.
Franco, 23, was two-thirds of the way through an All-Star season for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2023 when he was placed on administrative leave last August as officials in the Dominican Republic launched an investigation into allegations of a sexual relationship with a minor. He has not returned to the Rays.
Charges were filed this past July, and the Rays moved Franco to the restricted list, which came without pay. Under an agreement reached with the MLB Players’ Association, Franco would be paid his salary while on administrative leave, but he would not receive any money should he be charged.
According to ESPN, Franco faces up to 20 years in prison for charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking.
He is also under investigation by Major League Baseball.
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in November 2001. He was due to earn $2.45 million in each of 2023 and 2024, with the value rising annually until the yearly pay reached $25.45 million in 2028 and through the life of the contract.
ESPN reported that also Thursday, the father of the girl involved in the case reached an agreement to withdraw a complaint he had filed against Franco. Terms were not disclosed.
