Tampa Bay Rays place All-Star shortstop Wander Franco on the restricted record as MLB seems into allegations he dated an underaged woman

Tampa Bay Rays and All-Star shortstop Wander Franco have agreed that he can be positioned on the restricted record Monday, only a day after allegations surfaced on social media that he had dated an underaged woman.

The workforce stated in a press release that the 22-year-old has agreed to take a leave of absence.

Franco is not going to be with the workforce throughout its street journey in San Francisco, the place the Rays start a three-game sequence towards the Giants on Monday evening. 

As well as, he can even miss Tampa Bay’s three-game set this weekend in Anaheim.

The Rays will be capable of substitute the roster spot belonging to Franco, who was chosen to his first All-Star Recreation this season.

Main League Baseball is wanting into the incident, Tampa Bay stated within the assertion.

‘We help any steps taken by the league to raised perceive the scenario,’ the workforce stated. ‘Out of respect for all events concerned, now we have no additional feedback right now.’

The Dominican Republic Legal professional Common’s Workplace is reportedly wanting into the allegations, information outlet Noticias Telemicro reported.

The investigation is being led by Justice of the Peace Olga Diná, who oversees the Nationwide Directorate of Boys, Ladies, Adolescents and Household. 

The Tampa Bay Rays introduced Monday that the group and Wander Franco mutually agreed for him to go on the restricted record, sooner or later after a rumor broke on social media that he allegedly dated an underage woman within the Dominican Republic

Tampa Bay returns dwelling August 22 for a three-game sequence towards the Colorado Rockies earlier than a weekend showdown with the New York Yankees, and it is unknown if Franco will rejoin the workforce then.

The mutual choice to half methods comes after the viral social media allegations linked the Rays famous person to a younger woman in his native Dominican Republic on Sunday earlier than the workforce took the sphere for its sequence finale towards the Cleveland Guardians.

Franco addressed the rumors with a livestream on Instagram and denied that he had a relationship with a minor. The age of consent within the Dominican Republic is eighteen.

‘They’re saying I received with a younger woman, that I am working round with a minor on the market. How loopy is that, dude? Folks do not know what to do with their time. Go see,’ Franco stated in Spanish.

‘These individuals must get shifting. One is right here centered, doing my factor, you see, due to God. That is why I favor to be on my facet and never become involved with anyone as a result of persons are so gossipy.’

Rays teammate José Siri later walked into the recording and shouted that it is simply ‘individuals after cash.’ 

ESPN Deportes reporter Enrique Rojas stated on Monday’s radio present, Grandes En Los Deportes, which airs within the Domincan Republic, that the Instagram stay recording passed off previous to Sunday’s sport, which featured a Wander Franco Snapback Hat giveaway for followers 14 and beneath who have been in attendance.

Tampa Bay star All-Star shortstop Wander Franco is drenched after he hit a walkoff dwelling run Friday evening to beat the Cleveland Guardians. He in Saturday’s win, however was not within the lineup for Sunday’s sequence finale. 

Wander Franco was chosen to his first MLB All-Star Recreation this season. He’s hitting .281 with 14 homers and 58 RBI

Throughout his pregame media availability, Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Money instructed reporters that he had left Franco out of the lineup.

Previous to the sport, Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Money stated that the workforce was giving Franco to ‘get him off his toes.’ He hit a ninth inning, walk-off homer to beat Cleveland on Friday evening and was on the sphere for Saturday’s win over the Guardians.

He stated after the sport that he was conscious of the rumors surrounding the membership’s star.

‘I’m conscious of this hypothesis,’ Money stated. ‘I am not going to remark any additional on that. However the time off was as a result of (of) the time off.’ 

Franco is hitting .281 with 14 dwelling runs and 58 RBI, and his absence will create a gap within the lineup for a Rays workforce that entered Monday three video games behind the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles.

However the Rays have already handled him being away from the workforce – he was benched for 2 consecutive days in July  after the workforce questioned his conduct round his teammates and the way he managed his frustration.

He was additionally concerned in a heated dugout argument with fellow All-Star Randy Arozarena in late Might.

Franco was signed out of the Dominican Republic as a world free agent in July 2017 and inked him to a $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021. Tampa Bay can train a workforce choice for 2033 which might develop the deal to as much as $223.