Tampa Bay Rays star shortstop on leave amid investigation into alleged relationship with minor

July 06, 2024

by JACKSON WALKER | The National Desk

Monday, Aug 14th 2023

Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco watches from the dugout during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (TND) —

Major League Baseball’s Tampa Bay Rays have placed one of their players on the restricted list following rumors he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

The Rays said in a statement shortstop Wander Franco, 22, is now the subject of an MLB investigation after allegations surfaced during a 9-3 loss to the Guardians Sunday that he had previously been involved with an underaged girl.

Franco did not play in that game despite a Wander Franco hat giveaway for children 14 and under that day.

The Rays said via X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, they are in full cooperation with the league’s investigation.

“We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation. Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time,” the Rays said Monday.

Franco was not with the Rays Sunday night as they traveled to San Francisco to play the Giants.

The restricted list is a position that removes a player from a team’s roster and usually takes them off payroll. It allows a team to retain the rights to a player who cannot normally play due to off-the-field issues, Baseball Reference wrote.

Franco is signed to an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays after emerging as one of the top players in baseball. Franco was voted to the 2023 MLB All-Star Game and is currently tied for 10th in the American League in hits.

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