Former Tampa Bay Rays Star Arrested in DR

Former Major League Baseball and Tampa Bay Rays star shortstop Wander Franco was arrested on Monday.

Franco, 23, was arrested in the Dominican Republic, according to a report from ESPN. The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop, who missed all of the 2024 season as he’s been accused of sexually abusing a 14-year-old, was reportedly arrested following an incident in which guns were drawn.

The All-Star shortstop was reportedly arrested in San Juan de la Maguana, which is about 100 miles west of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

There was reportedly an altercation in a parking lot of an apartment complex. Guns were reportedly drawn by multiple parties.

“Police sources confirm that Franco and an unnamed woman are being held for questioning following the incident,” ESPN reported on Monday morning.

It was also previously reported that Franco cannot leave the Dominican Republic under his bail agreement as he awaits the trial, but he is free to travel within the country, police confirmed.

Police also said that Franco would be free to carry a gun should he have a license to carry one and have said weapon registered. Police could not confirm on Monday whether Franco had met either of those requirements.

Franco, once one of the top young players in the game, signed an 11 year, $182 million extension in 2021. He was placed on MLB’s restricted list in July, after prosecutors in the D.R. accused him of having a sexual relationship with a girl who was 14 years old at the time.

Franco continues to be under MLB investigation through its domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.

Photo Credit: ESPN