Wander Franco will not have to serve a sentence.
Before his criminal charges, Franco was one of MLB’s rising stars. PDO
Baseball star Wander Franco has been found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but he will not have to serve a sentence for it, news reports include CNN.
According to CNN, the judge Jose Nunez considered in its decision that Franco had been the victim of blackmail and threats by the mother of the minor girl. The mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the sexual trafficking of her daughter.
– It seems contradictory to declare criminal liability and at the same time exempt him from punishment. The court has granted judicial amnesty to Wander Franco due to the special circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one, Nunez explained the sentence.
The final decision and verdict in the case will be given on June 16.
Franco (right) cried after hearing the judge’s decision. EPA / AOP
Franco, who is from the Dominican Republic, was arrested in January 2024 after being suspected of having a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl and paying her mother thousands of dollars to facilitate the illicit relationship.
The 25-year-old Franco’s last game for the Tampa Bay Rays was on August 12, 2023, the day before messages were leaked on social media alleging he had a relationship with a 14-year-old girl.
Franco was then placed on administrative leave through the end of the 2023 season and again at the beginning of the 2024 season. He was originally convicted in June 2025 and given a two-year suspended sentence.
Both parties appealed the verdict and the matter was dealt with in a new trial, where the most recent decision was made.
“We are aware of today’s verdict in Wander Franco’s trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.
Franco is still suspended and will not be paid.
He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays in November 2021.