Wander Franco

A handgun registered to his uncle was found in Wander Franco's vehicle after an altercation, say Dominican prosecutors, who filed the charge Sunday.

Documents that prosecutors presented to the judge alleged that Franco, through his mother, transferred 1 million pesos, or $17,000, to the mother of the teenage girl to consent to the purported abuse.

The Tampa Bay shortstop has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.

Franco was having an All-Star season with Tampa Bay in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother for consent.

A judge in the Dominican Republic granted the delay at the request of prosecutors who said several key witnesses were absent.

The trial begins Thursday. He's been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.

A spokesperson in the Dominican Republic says the Tampa Bay shortstop was allegedly fighting with another man over a woman's attention.

The Rays shortstop is charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic.

Prosecutors also say Franco paid the girl’s mother thousands of dollars to consent to the relationship, which lasted four months.

Franco is accused of committing sexual and psychological abuse of the minor. The deadline to press charges was July 5, but Dominican Republic law allows a judge to grant an extra 10 days for prosecutors to present their conclusions.

Tampa Bay’s All-Star shortstop has not played since Aug. 12 while MLB continues its investigation into an alleged relationship with a minor.

Franco, who has a $2 million salary this year, remained in his native Dominican Republic while authorities there investigate.