Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, once heralded as one of MLB’s brightest young stars, is now facing additional legal trouble. Franco has officially been charged with illegal possession of a handgun in the Dominican Republic, according to a report from ESPN. The charge stems from a November 2023 incident in San Juan de la Maguana, where an altercation in a parking lot led to guns being drawn and Franco’s subsequent arrest.
Authorities later found a firearm in Franco’s vehicle that was registered to his uncle, not him, prompting the official weapons charge. While no one was harmed in the incident, the discovery added to an already mounting list of legal woes for the 24-year-old.
Franco is currently on trial for a far more serious matter: sexual abuse of a minor. He was first arrested in July 2023, following widespread allegations that surfaced in August of the same year. Prosecutors accuse Franco of engaging in a relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paying her mother for permission to continue the relationship. The charges against him include sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation, and human trafficking. If convicted, he could face up to 30 years in prison.
According to investigators, Franco allegedly paid the minor’s mother thousands of dollars and even gifted her a car.
Major League Baseball placed Franco on its restricted list in July 2023. The Rays ceased all on-field activity involving Franco after August 12, shortly after the allegations first came to light. In 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with Tampa Bay, a deal that now hangs in the balance as his legal situation unfolds.
Once seen as the future face of the franchise, Franco’s case continues to send shockwaves through the baseball world, as fans and officials await the outcome of his trial.