Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco appeared in court Monday, June 2, in the Dominican Republic, where he is facing grave charges including sexual abuse of a minor, human trafficking, and commercial exploitation. The trial stems from allegations involving a 14-year-old girl, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the once-promising MLB All-Star.
Franco, 24, had been enjoying a breakout season in 2023 before allegations surfaced that he was engaged in an illicit relationship with the underage girl. Prosecutors allege that Franco, through his mother Yudelka Aybar, transferred the equivalent of $17,000 to the girl’s mother in exchange for her consent to the relationship. That mother has since been charged with money laundering and is currently under house arrest.
The proceedings, initially scheduled for December 2024, were postponed when several key witnesses failed to appear. Despite objections from Franco’s legal team, who cited scheduling conflicts with his obligations to report to spring training, the court ruled that the trial would continue without further delay. Judge Yacaira Veras emphasized that Franco’s conditional release hinges on compliance with the trial timeline.
According to documents presented to the court, the minor’s mother reportedly experienced a rapid change in lifestyle after receiving the funds, acquiring assets and large amounts of cash allegedly delivered by Franco. Authorities say they recovered over $100,000 in Dominican and U.S. currency during a raid on her residence.
Franco spoke briefly on the opening day of the trial, telling the judges, “I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,” before declining further comment to the press. Judge Pascual Valenzuela previously ruled that the evidence was sufficient to proceed to trial following a year-long investigation.
Separate from these charges, Franco was also arrested in November 2024 for allegedly possessing a firearm illegally after a heated confrontation in a parking lot. Police recovered two firearms, one registered to Franco’s uncle. While Franco was again granted supervised release, he must report to court monthly. A conviction in that case could result in an additional three to five years in prison.
Franco’s legal troubles have impacted his MLB career significantly. He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in 2021 but was placed on administrative leave in August 2023 as the initial investigation began. Under the league’s policy on domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, he was paid during that time. Once formal charges were filed in July 2024, MLB moved Franco to the restricted list, halting his salary, which had already been reduced to half of his original $2 million for the 2024 season.
Now facing the possibility of a prison sentence of up to 30 years if convicted, Franco’s once-promising future in professional baseball hangs in the balance. As the trial unfolds, both Major League Baseball and the Tampa Bay Rays remain publicly silent on the matter, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.