"God sent me a surprise with all this" - When Wander Franco was ecstatic after unforgettable homer in MLB debut for Rays

Wander Franco might be one of the most controversial figures in baseball right now because of his ongoing sexual abuse case. However, we are not far removed from when he was potentially the next great superstar.

After joining the Tampa Bay Rays, Franco quickly climbed the MLB's top prospect rankings, before finding himself above everyone else as the league's top young talent.

Fast-forward to June 22, 2021, and Wander Franco's coming out party was alive and well. During his major league debut against the Boston Red Sox, the ultra-talented shortstop crushed the first home run of his career off Eduardo Rodriguez. This was a message to the league that he has arrived.

After the game, Franco was asked about the experience, as well as the curtain call he received after coming out of the dugout following the home run. It was something that he said he knew was going to happen because he got the pitch he wanted.

"God sent me a surprise with all of this [1:14]" - Franco said of the home run celebrations.

It was a truly special moment for Franco who explained that he came back out of the dugout to honor the fans that were in attendance to see him play.

He even expressed his joy for having his father in attendance for his milestone moment. Unfortunately for Wander Franco and his fans, the good times only lasted so long as his MLB career now remains in jeopardy.

Wander Franco's future in the MLB remains uncertain after an alleged relationship with a minor came to light

After only 265 games with the Tampa Bay Rays, there is a realistic chance that we may have seen his final appearance in the MLB.

Franco was officially charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor in his native Dominican Republic. It's something that could see him receive up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

It's been a shocking fall from grace for one of the league's next potential superstars. His alleged relationship with a 14-year-old came to light on social media in August 2023.

Now, after months of investigations and surprising twists in the case have come out, the former All-Star has officially been charged. The second phase of his trial is scheduled for September 26.