Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Aug 22, 2023 11:43 am

Rays SS Wander Franco placed on administrative leave

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave following an agreement between Major League Baseball and its players association.

Franco was placed on the restricted list by the Rays on Aug. 14 as MLB launched an investigation into social media posts indicating Franco was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

He’s the subject of a criminal investigation being conducted by the Dominican Republic’s National Agency for Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence Unit.

Franco will be paid and accrue service time during leave.

“Per an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, Wander Franco has been placed on Administrative Leave until further notice as MLB continues its ongoing investigation,” MLB said in a statement Tuesday. “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.”

Franco, 22, denied the allegations in an Instagram Live post that he later deleted.

Franco has seven days to challenge being placed on administrative leave, according to ESPN.

Franco is in the second year of an 11-year, $182 million contract he received from the Rays after the 2021 season. That year, he finished third in American League Rookie of the Year voting despite playing in just 70 regular-season games.

He made the AL All-Star team for the first time this year. This season, he has a .281 batting average, a .344 on-base percentage, a .475 slugging percentage, 17 homers, 58 RBIs and 30 stolen bases in 112 games.

He has a .282/.340/.454 career batting line with 30 homers, 130 RBIs and 40 steals in 265 games.

–Field Level Media

You may also like

mizuhara, Ohtani
Feb 7, 2025 12:44 am

Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter gets 57-month sentence

A U.S. District Court judged sided with the prosecution and issued a 57-month sentence on Thursday to Ippei Mizuhara for stealing approximately $17 million from Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei…

Yoan Moncada
Feb 6, 2025 8:31 pm

Reports: Angels signing veteran INF Yoan Moncada

Free agent infielder Yoan Moncada is signing with the Los Angeles Angels for a one-year contract worth $5 million, according to multiple media reports on Thursday night. Moncada, 29, played…

Angel Stadium Anaheim general view
Feb 6, 2025 2:02 pm

Angels extend stadium lease through 2032

The Los Angeles Angels extended their lease at Angel Stadium, keeping them in Anaheim, Calif., and inside the fourth-oldest ballpark in the major leagues through 2032. An expansion franchise in…

More Baseball News

mizuhara, Ohtani
Feb 7, 2025 12:44 am

Shohei Ohtani’s ex-interpreter gets 57-month sentence

A U.S. District Court judged sided with the prosecution and issued a 57-month sentence on Thursday to Ippei Mizuhara for stealing approximately $17 million from Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei…

Yoan Moncada
Feb 6, 2025 8:31 pm

Reports: Angels signing veteran INF Yoan Moncada

Angel Stadium Anaheim general view
Feb 6, 2025 2:02 pm

Angels extend stadium lease through 2032

Tommy Pham
Feb 6, 2025 12:45 pm

Reports: Pirates add OF Tommy Pham on 1-year deal

Pete Alonso
Feb 5, 2025 10:48 pm

Reports: Mets retain Pete Alonso for two years, $54M

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds