Tampa Bay All-Star shortstop Wander Franco has been put on administrative leave through June 1 as part of an agreement between Major League Baseball and the players' association. This decision comes as an investigation continues into an alleged relationship with a minor.
It is important to note that administrative leave is not considered disciplinary under the sport’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. During this period, Franco will continue to receive his salary, which amounts to $2 million for this year. The player has chosen to remain in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there conduct their investigation and did not report to spring training.
The Rays are set to kick off their season on Thursday against Toronto, prompting MLB and the union to address Franco's roster status.
Franco has not seen any game time since August 12. Following social media posts hinting at a relationship with a minor, he was placed on the restricted list for a week on August 14, leading to an investigation by MLB. The authenticity of the reported posts has not been confirmed by the AP.
On August 22, Franco was moved to administrative leave, where he remained until the end of the season. It is worth noting that there is no leave during the offseason.
MLB is expected to wait for the conclusion of the investigation in the Dominican Republic before making any decisions regarding potential disciplinary actions.
Initially facing accusations of commercial and sexual exploitation as well as money laundering, Franco is now accused of sexual and psychological abuse according to a judge’s resolution obtained by The Associated Press in January. While he has not been formally charged, if found guilty of the new allegations, he could face a prison sentence ranging from two to five years.
Franco, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on March 1, was in the midst of his third major league season when his career was put on hold. At the time, he boasted a batting average of .281 with 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 30 stolen bases in 40 attempts across 112 games.
In November 2021, Franco agreed to a lucrative $182 million, 11-year contract. Last year, he earned $706,761 in addition to his salary as part of MLB’s pre-arbitration bonus pool, a fund established by the league and players’ association to reward young players based on their tenure in the major leagues.
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