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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested in the Dominican Republic for his involvement in an armed altercation, authorities confirm Hogla Enecia Pérez and Alex Andrejev of De Athletics.
A police spokesperson said this Martijn Adames from the Associated Press that Franco was arrested on Sunday, two firearms were seized and a man and a woman were also arrested.
The spokesperson said the incident took place in a parking lot in San Juan de la Maguana, a city located 186 kilometers west of Santo Domingo. The police do not want to say whether anyone was injured, but one of the firearms is believed to belong to Franco.
The 23 year old does scheduled to stand trial on December 12 in the northern province of Puerto Plata in a separate case in which he is accused of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking. If found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.
According to ESPN’s Juan RecioFranco is not allowed to leave the Dominican Republic under his bail agreement while he awaits trial, but police have confirmed he is free to travel within the country.
Franco has not played in the MLB since August 12, 2023, amid allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor. After nearly a year on administrative leave, the Rays placed him on the restricted list on July 10, halting the pay he had been receiving and his accrued service time. He could still be suspended by MLB under the league’s policies on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse.
Franco has refused to speak to the media, saying of the case: “Everything is in God’s hands.”
The Rays signed Franco to an 11-year contract worth $182 million in November 2021, just 70 games into his major league career.
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