Wander Franco Given Suspended Sentence for Sex Abuse

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty by a Dominican Republic court of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl and received a two-year suspended prison sentence, provided he does not approach minors for sexual purposes. The court also convicted the girl's mother of sex trafficking and sentenced her to 10 years in prison after it was revealed she accepted money from Franco in exchange for her daughter's exploitation. Prosecutors had sought a five-year sentence for Franco, who was also charged with sexual exploitation and human trafficking, but he will avoid prison unless he violates the court's conditions. Franco, who has not played in MLB since August 2023, remains on the restricted list, and his conviction is expected to make obtaining a U.S. work visa difficult, further jeopardizing his career. MLB's internal investigation is ongoing, and the league has stated it will conclude the process at the appropriate time while emphasizing its commitment to its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.