Wander Franco Placed On MLB Restricted List After Being Charged For Sexual Abuse Of Minor

Major League Baseball placed Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco on the restricted list Wednesday after prosecutors in the Dominican Republic charged him for engaging in a relationship with a minor.

Franco was briefly placed on the Rays’ restricted list last summer before MLB put him on indefinite paid administrative leave. MLB stressed that this was not a disciplinary action, as the league intended to wait for all criminal investigations to resolve before assessing punishment itself.

As part of a deal with the Players’ Association, the league is permitted to remove Franco from the previous leave agreement because he was charged in court. He will no longer receive payment or service time from MLB. His move to the restricted list is not a direct form of discipline for the charges, but because he is not permitted to leave the Dominican Republic, the Rays have used his failure to report to the team as a workaround. MLB accepted the team’s appeal.

“We are aware of the charges against Mr. Franco,” MLB said in a statement Wednesday, according to ESPN. “Our investigation remains open, and we will continue to closely monitor the case as it moves forward.”

After nearly a year-long criminal investigation in the Dominican Republic, Franco was charged Tuesday for sexual abuse, sexual exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. Franco is alleged to have been 21 when he entered a relationship with a 14-year-old girl. He was also accused of paying the girl’s mother in exchange for her consent.

Prosecutors initially accused Franco of sexual exploitation and money laundering in January but have issued more severe charges after further investigation. If he is found guilty, Franco could spend up to 20 years in prison, derailing a brief MLB career that included an All-Star Game appearance and an 11-year, $182-million contract with the Rays.