Wander Franco Verdict Expected Thursday Dominican Republic Sexual Abuse Trial

Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, faces a verdict on Thursday in the Dominican Republic for sexual abuse of a minor, stemming from an alleged relationship with a 14-year-old from December 2022 to February 2023. Prosecutors are seeking a five-year prison sentence, presenting extensive evidence including financial records showing large sums of money transferred to the minor's mother, who also faces charges of child exploitation and money laundering with a requested 10-year sentence. Franco has been on Major League Baseball's restricted list and suspended from pay since the charges became public in August 2023, and his career is on hold with $164 million remaining on his $182 million contract. During the trial, Franco addressed the court briefly, asking for justice, while the judges delayed their ruling to consider the extensive evidence presented. The case has not only legal but also immigration implications for Franco if found guilty, and MLB will continue its own investigation regardless of the court's decision. Additional charges for illegal gun possession from a traffic stop are pending but have not yet gone to trial.