Breaking: Prison Sentence Announced For Ex-MLB Star Wander Franco originally appeared on The Spun.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been on trial for sexual abuse in the Dominican Republic. The trial has concluded and Franco’s punishment has been revealed.
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According to reporter Juan Arturo Recio via ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Franco has been found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor. He had been accused of engaging in a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21 years old.
Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence but will have to report to prison if he fails to meet conditions.
“BREAKING: Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic for an illegal sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl when he was 21. He received a two-year prison sentence, according to (Juan Arturo Recio),” Passan wrote.
Baseball fans were outraged that the sentence was for two years, with many asserting that the punishment was far too low.
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“How the hell does he only get 2 years? This is some BS,” one user on X said.
“Wander Franco sexually abuses a young teenage girl & gets just two years in prison. What type of court system are they running in the DR, to hand out that joke of a sentence?” wrote another.
“Just 2 years?? Way too light of a sentence,” a third wrote.
“2 years is (expletive) disgusting. This should be a life sentence.”
“ONLY 2!?!? Bro’s gonna be back in the league in no time!”
“Two years is not enough for that lowkey.”
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – August 12: Tampa Bay Rays Shortstop Wander Franco (5) throws the ball over to first base during the MLB regular season game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Tampa Bay Rays on August 12, 2023, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
Some have argued that the court was more lenient on Franco because the minor’s mother tried extorting him. The mother was reportedly sentenced to 10 years in prison for her own crimes relating to the encounter.
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As far as Franco’s baseball career goes, it may only be a matter of time before the Tampa Bay Rays cut ties with him for good. For whatever reason, he’s still under contract with the team.
But he’s going to have a hard if not impossible time in simply being allowed back into the United States now that he has this criminal conviction on his record. He might not be allowed to play pro baseball in any other country for that matter.
Franco might have avoided the inside of a jail cell, but the door has likely been slammed shut on his baseball career.
Related: Wander Franco’s MLB Career in Jeopardy Amid Serious Charges
Breaking: Prison Sentence Announced For Ex-MLB Star Wander Franco first appeared on The Spun on Jun 26, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.