MLB places Franco on administrative leave amid investigation

MLB places Franco on administrative leave amid investigation

Major League Baseball placed Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco on administrative leave amid an investigation into his alleged inappropriate relationships with minors, the league announced Tuesday.

Franco, who’s being investigated for a possible violation of the MLB-MLB players’ association joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy, will remain on administrative leave “until further notice,” the league’s release noted. The move isn’t a disciplinary measure. He’ll continue to be paid and accrue service time while on administrative leave.

The issue of Franco’s postseason eligibility hasn’t yet been determined, sources told Evan Drellich of The Athletic.

“We support Major League Baseball’s decision to place Wander Franco on administrative leave,” the Rays said in a statement. “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.”

The team placed the 22-year-old on the restricted list Aug. 14, one day after social media posts surfaced alleging he had a relationship with an unidentified minor.

Two individuals raised concerns about Franco, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan. The first, who appeared in images with Franco that were shared on social media, has since deleted her Instagram account. Her age hasn’t been verified. It was this allegation that prompted MLB to open its internal investigation.

Last month, a different individual spoke to police in the Dominican Republic about Franco, per Passan, citing a report from Dominican newspaper Diario Libre. An investigation has since been opened against him in Peravia, Franco’s home province, by a police unit specializing in minors and gender violence, Peravia prosecutor Angel Dario Tejeda Fabal confirmed to The Associated Press.

Franco denied the allegations against him in an Instagram Live shortly after the posts became public. He also reportedly told teammates that he’s innocent. Franco has yet to be charged with any crimes.

“They say that I’m in public with a little girl, that I’m running around with a minor. People don’t know what to do with their time,” Franco said in Spanish on the Instagram video, as translated by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. “They don’t know what they’re talking about. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody … because people gossip and talk smack.”

MLB has the authority to place a player on administrative leave for up to seven days. Longer stints require consent from the MLBPA, which the league confirmed it received in this case, according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

Unlike in past cases of administrative leave that had to be formally renewed by the league and union every week, Franco’s leave has no fixed end date, multiple people briefed on the arrangement told Drellich. His status will instead be based on how the investigation itself unfolds and what’s discovered. The status of the criminal investigation will be a factor, sources told Drellich.

The joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy allows for MLB to suspend players who are found to have violated the policy based on evidence the league gathers through its internal investigations. MLB can still issue suspensions for violating the policy even without criminal charges being laid.

Sixteen players have been suspended under the policy since it was first instituted in 2015. The most recent player to be suspended under the policy was New York Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero, who was handed an 85-game ban last month. Trevor Bauer was given the longest punishment of 324 games, later reduced to 194 on appeal, last year.

The Rays signed Franco, now in his third big-league season, to an 11-year, $182-million contract following his rookie campaign. Earlier this week, the team quietly dropped Franco highlights from its television commercials, according to Topkin. Banners with his likeness around Tropicana Field were being removed Tuesday.

Got a story or tip for us? Email Sports Gossip editors at tips@sportsgossip.com 

Want More From Sports Gossip? 

For all the latest breaking Sports Gossip, be sure to follow SportsGossip.com on FacebookInstagram, and Twitter.

You can view the original article HERE.

Not Quite Enough Rocky Mountain Highs in This Rodeo Drama
Not Quite Enough Rocky Mountain Highs in This Rodeo Drama
The Unloved, Part 136: Ironweed | Features
The Unloved, Part 136: Ironweed | Features
Surprise Anime Hit ‘Solo Leveling’ Gets Season 3 Update
Surprise Anime Hit ‘Solo Leveling’ Gets Season 3 Update
Battle Angel’s Robert Rodriguez Is Still Eager To Make a Sequel
Battle Angel’s Robert Rodriguez Is Still Eager To Make a Sequel
Lisa says BLACKPINK are “in the studio” working on a new album
Lisa says BLACKPINK are “in the studio” working on a new album
Ed Sheeran says new album ‘Play’ “was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life”
Ed Sheeran says new album ‘Play’ “was made as a direct response to the darkest period of my life”
‘Kevin & Perry Go Large’ 25th anniversary party announced for London’s Ministry Of Sound
‘Kevin & Perry Go Large’ 25th anniversary party announced for London’s Ministry Of Sound
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong says ‘American Idiot’ movie is “eventually going to happen”
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong says ‘American Idiot’ movie is “eventually going to happen”
What to Watch: Poker Face, The Walking Dead: Dead City
What to Watch: Poker Face, The Walking Dead: Dead City
20 Most Romantic K-Dramas to Watch Next
20 Most Romantic K-Dramas to Watch Next
Why It’s Time for Private Practice to Scrub Back In
Why It’s Time for Private Practice to Scrub Back In
Netflix’s ‘Exterritorial’ Reviews Promises Another Explosive Action Thriller Hit for the Streamer
Netflix’s ‘Exterritorial’ Reviews Promises Another Explosive Action Thriller Hit for the Streamer
Harbaugh: Chargers need to get Herbert to Hall of Fame
Harbaugh: Chargers need to get Herbert to Hall of Fame
Red Sox place Buehler on IL with right shoulder bursitis
Red Sox place Buehler on IL with right shoulder bursitis
Clippers hold off Nuggets to force Game 7
Clippers hold off Nuggets to force Game 7
Maye ‘pumped’ about Patriots’ offseason acquisitions
Maye ‘pumped’ about Patriots’ offseason acquisitions
Jen Psaki Claims She Missed Biden’s Decline Until Trump Debate
Jen Psaki Claims She Missed Biden’s Decline Until Trump Debate
HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Behind The Scenes Photos
HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Behind The Scenes Photos
No Preview
Alex Monahan Reveals Secret To Risk Free MLB Betting Profits
Bomb Detonates in Woman’s Hand in Greece, Killing Her
Bomb Detonates in Woman’s Hand in Greece, Killing Her
Wrangler x The Last of Us
Wrangler x The Last of Us
Parties, Parties, Parties! Zales’ Bejeweled Bash & More!
Parties, Parties, Parties! Zales’ Bejeweled Bash & More!
Prada Opens Its Madison Avenue Men’s Store With A Refreshingly Mod Soirée
Prada Opens Its Madison Avenue Men’s Store With A Refreshingly Mod Soirée
Riccardo Tisci’s Scandal, Choupette Returns!
Riccardo Tisci’s Scandal, Choupette Returns!