What does the future hold for Wander Franco after the latest legal news?

The exiled Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, Wander Franco, is unlikely to make his return to the MLB any time soon as he continues to face legal ramifications for alleged sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl in his native Dominican Republic.

According to the Associated Press, July 5 was the deadline for the prosecutors to formally press charges against Franco, six months after Judge Rumaldi Marcelino had initiated the investigation. While no charges have been lodged against him as yet, as per the laws of the country, a judge can allow 10 more days for the prosecutors and victims to present their case.

“The deadline literally expires after six months, but there is a requirement that must prevail for that, and that is that the judge notify the prosecutor and notify the victim,” said Dinora Diloné, the father to the victim's lawyer.

The prosecutors of this investigation claim that Wander Franco offered a large sum of money to the victim's mother to give her consent to their relationship, which lasted for four months. The girl's mother has also been placed under house arrest, as per reports from the Associated Press.

Return to MLB seems unlikely for Wander Franco in the near future

The exiled Tampa Bays Rays shortstop Wander Franco is unlikely to return to the MLB this year (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Wander Franco, who was an All-Star last year, has not featured for the Rays since August 12, 2023. MLB and the player's association had decided to place Franco on the restricted list after social media posts emerged in which he was accused of having sexual relations with a minor. He remained on administrative leave until the Rays added him to the 40-man roster at the end of the year.

In January 2024, Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic before being released on bail after an investigation into the charges against him was launched. Since then, he has been residing in his home country and he is required to pay a monthly visit to the authorities until the investigation is completed.

For now, Franco remains on administrative leave from the Tampa Bay Rays, which has been extended up to July 14. He had signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021, and his salary for the 2024 season is $2 million. A player is entitled to his full salary during administrative leave since it does not fall under the MLB's joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.

Wander Franco occasionally posts videos of himself taking batting practice on the baseball fields in the Dominican Republic. But there is no clarity on when he will play in the United States again. The player's representatives, the MLB, and the Rays have all declined to comment on the matter so far.