Rays SS Wander Franco is to stand trial in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case

A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled Thursday that Wander Franco will stand trial on charges of sexual abuse of a minor.

According to ESPN, the judge ruled that the prosecutors’ allegations and evidence were sufficient to initiate a trial.

No trial date has been set.

Franco was formally charged in July with sexual abuse, human trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic. The 23-year-old was on administrative leave when allegations surfaced on social media that he was dating a then 14-year-old girl. He was placed on Major League Baseball’s restricted list and has not played for the Rays since August 12, 2023.

The charges against Franco carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. With a trial date yet to be set, the Rays shortstop remains under investigation by MLB under its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

Franco is not allowed to leave the Dominican Republic under his bail agreement.

A first complaint was filed with the authorities of the Dominican Republic on July 17, 2023. At least two other girls have since made similar allegations. The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years.

Franco was summoned by Dominican authorities in December and was supposed to meet with the Specialized Public Prosecutor’s Office for Children and Adolescents, but he did not show up for the meeting. That was the reason for his arrest and a search in his hometown of Baní.

He was arrested for failure to appear, not because of the sexual assault investigation. He was subsequently released on parole and has since been required to make monthly follow-up visits to a judge.

Franco was in the middle of his third MLB season when he was placed on administrative leave. He made the All-Star team for the first time in his career in 2023. Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million deal with the Rays in 2021, but he was officially removed from the Rays’ 40-man roster before opening day of this season.