Wander Franco spoke out in court for the first time as his sexual abuse trial got underway in the Dominican Republic on Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Rays\u2019 shortstop has been accused of sexual abuse and exploitation of a minor, and prosecutors have said that they have \u201cconvincing evidence\u201d<\/a> that Franco committed the crime and then attempted to buy off the victim\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n Franco has maintained his innocence against the allegations, which surfaced online in social media posts in August 2023 <\/a>and have forced him away from the game of baseball since.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wander Franco, accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, attends the first session of trial in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, 02 June 2025. Luis Tavarez\/EPA-EFE\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Wander Franco (L), accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, attends the first session of trial in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, 02 June 2025. Luis Tavarez\/EPA-EFE\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve heard everything they\u2019re saying [during the reading of the indictment], but the only thing I\u2019m going to say is [I hope] justice is done,\u201d Franco told the court at the start of the trial on Monday, according to ESPN\u2019s Enrique Rojas.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Franco also told the court, \u201cLet justice be done,\u201d before thanking the judges for the opportunity to speak, ESPN Deportes reported.<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n The former MLB All-Star is facing charges of sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking after a judge ruled in September that the prosecution had enough evidence to move to trial.\u00a0<\/p>\n Dominican prosecutors have continued to reiterate that Franco \u201ckidnapped the victim for sexual purposes for several days\u201d and had then given the mother \u201clarge sums of money\u201d in order to \u201cprevent her from reporting him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The victim\u2019s mother is facing charges of money laundering and is under house arrest for her role.\u00a0<\/p>\n The abuse lasted eight months while the girl\u2019s mother benefited from Franco sending her money in order to keep her quiet, prosecutors allege.\u00a0<\/p>\n Shortstop Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays throws out Zack Short of the Detroit Tigers at first base during the sixth inning at Comerica Park on August 5, 2023. Getty Images<\/p>\n Franco\u2019s defense team argued in court on Monday that the prosecution does not have any evidence to prove their case and claimed the accusations are flawed, ESPN Deportes reported.\u00a0<\/p>\n The baseball player is facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted and the trial could take up to eight months to conclude, according to the Associated Press.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Unlike the United States, there are no jury trials in the Dominican Republic, and the case is being heard by a panel of three judges who listen to arguments and witness testimony before analyzing the evidence and making a ruling.\u00a0<\/p>\n Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a two run homer against the Yankees in 2023. Charles Wenzelberg\/New York Post<\/p>\n Judges Jakayra Veras, Venecia Rojas and Jos\u00e9 Juan Jim\u00e9nez are presiding over the case, per ESPN Deportes.\u00a0<\/p>\n Allegations of misconduct came in the form of social media posts on Aug. 13, 2023, that went viral and alleged Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.\u00a0<\/p>\n