Tampa Bay Rays’ rising star, Wander Franco, has found himself in a serious predicament as MLB has now placed him on administrative leave.
Well, this decision comes amidst a flurry of investigations that are focused on Franco’s alleged involvement with underage girls back in his home country, the Dominican Republic.
Previously, the Rays put him on the Restricted List, leading to his absence from the team for the past week.
“The administrative leave, effective immediately, is not disciplinary under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. We will comment further at the appropriate time,” MLB said in a statement Tuesday.
On the other hand, Tampa Bay Rays have issued an official statement backing MLB’s steps.
“We support Major League Baseball’s decision to place Wander Franco on Administration Leave. The Tampa Bay Rays are dedicated to upholding high standards of integrity both on and off the field. We appreciate the understanding and patience of our fans and supporters as this process unfolds. We will have no further statements on this matter until MLB completes its process.”
Jay Reisinger, Franco’s legal representative, denied to provide any official statements.
What’s more unfortunate is Wander Franco was currently in the midst of his second year within an impressive 11-year, $182 million contract. A breakout season was well underway for the star.
Having an impressive .281 batting average along with a .344 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .475, Franco’s performance has been nothing short of stellar. The power hitter has already crushed 17 home runs and displayed exceptional speed with 30 stolen bases to his name.
