Wander Franco DENIES ‘running around with a minor’: Viral video emerges displaying Rays star dismissing claims he’s courting younger woman after Tampa Bay benching 22-year-old shortstop over allegations
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Shortstop Wander Franco has denied courting an underage Dominican woman within the wake of viral allegations.
Rumors surfaced on X, the social media platform referred to as Twitter, when the 22-year-old from Sunday’s lineup was held towards the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field.
Franco held an Instagram dwell stream refuting the allegations and accusing the general public of constructing up tales. It is unclear when he posted the video on-line.
The age of consent within the Dominican Republic is eighteen years.
‘They say I’m hanging out with a younger woman, that I’m strolling round with a minor. How loopy is that, dude? People don’t know what to do with their time. Go and see,” he mentioned in Spanish.
“Those people need to move. One is focused here, doing my thing, you see, thanks to God. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and I don’t interfere with anyone because people gossip so much.’
Rays teammate José Siri later walks into the recording yelling that it’s just “people out for money.”
From Wander Franco’s IG Live:
“They say I’m in public with a little girl, that I’m walking around with a minor. People don’t know what to do with their time. They don’t know what they are talking about. That is why I prefer to be on my side and do not interfere with anyone.” pic.twitter.com/DEtsHCrbQW
— Jay Recher (@jayRecher) August 14, 2023
Tampa Bay Rays All-Star Wander Franco held an Instagram livestream session refuting allegations that he had been in a relationship with an underage woman, allegedly within the Dominican Republic. Rumors of the alleged relationship surfaced forward of Sunday’s recreation towards the Cleveland Guardians for which he was benched
Wander Franco reportedly didn’t be a part of Tampa Bay on the staff’s flight to San Francisco after Sunday’s recreation, sources advised ESPN, in keeping with the community’s baseball author Jeff Passan. The Rays launched a press release Sunday night time confirming Major League Baseball is investigating social media rumors surrounding the 22-year-old and a minor he allegedly dated
Tampa Bay confirmed Sunday night time that Major League Baseball is investigating the social media posts.
DailyMail.com has been unable to substantiate whether or not Franco shot the video earlier than or after Rays’ 9-2 loss to the Guardians on the day the membership ran a Wander Franco Snapback Hat giveaway for followers aged 14 and underneath who attended.
Tampa Bay confirmed Sunday night time that Major League Baseball is investigating the social media posts.
“During today’s game, we were made aware of the social media reports circulating about Wander Franco,” the staff mentioned in a press release. “We are taking the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.”
ESPN baseball reporter Jeff Passan reported that sources advised the community that Franco didn’t journey on the staff’s flight to San Francisco, the place they start a three-game collection Monday night time.
The supply mentioned there’s a risk of Franco being positioned on the restrictive record or on administrative depart.
Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco is soaked by teammates after Friday night time’s walkoff residence run towards the Cleveland Guardians. He additionally performed in Saturday’s win however was saved out of Sunday’s recreation ‘to get him on his feet’, mentioned Rays supervisor Kevin Cash
Before the sport, Tampa Bay supervisor Kevin Cash mentioned the staff gave Franco to “get him on his feet.” He hit a ninth-inning, walk-off homer to beat Cleveland on Friday night time and was on the sector for the win over the Guardians on Saturday.
He mentioned he was conscious of the rumors surrounding the star of the membership in the course of the match.
“I am aware of this speculation,” Cash mentioned. ‘I’m not going to remark additional on that. But the day without work was due to (of) the day without work.’
Franco was chosen to the All-Star Game for the primary time this yr, coming in on Sunday batting .281 with 17 residence runs and 58 RBI.
Wander Franco was drafted from the Dominican Republic by Tampa Bay in July 2017 as a world free agent. In November 2021, he signed a $182 million 11-year contract extension. The Rays have a membership possibility for 2033 – the deal can go as much as $223
It’s not the primary time Franco’s maturity has been questioned this season by the Rays, who’re three video games behind the American League-leading Baltimore Orioles.
Tampa Bay held him out of two straight video games in July after questioning his habits round his teammates and the way he dealt with his frustration.
He was additionally concerned in a heated dugout brawl with fellow All-Star Randy Arozarena in late May.
Franco was signed out of the Dominican Republic as a world free agent in July 2017 and dedicated to an 11-year contract price $182 million in November 2021.
Tampa Bay can train a staff possibility for 2033, which might push the deal as much as $223.
