The Tampa Bay Rays have reported that Major League Baseball is currently investigating “social media posts” regarding All-Star shortstop Wander Franco. As a result, Franco did not play in the team’s game on Sunday and will also miss the upcoming games against the Giants and Angels.
During Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Guardians, Franco was initially seen in the dugout before leaving. The Rays suffered a 9-2 loss in that game. It should be noted that the game on Sunday was Wander Franco snapback hat night in Tampa.
The Rays issued a statement on Sunday acknowledging the circulating social media posts about Wander Franco. They expressed a serious approach to the situation and are closely coordinating with Major League Baseball’s investigation.
Manager Kevin Cash addressed the situation after the game, stating that Franco’s absence was simply a scheduled day off. Cash declined to comment further on the speculation surrounding Franco.
On Monday, the Rays announced that both the team and Franco have mutually agreed to place him on the Restricted List and grant him leave from the club for the current road trip. The Rays’ next home game is scheduled for August 22.
The team expressed support for the league’s efforts to understand the situation better and stated that there would be no further comments from their side.
Reports from MLB.com, The Athletic, and The Tampa Bay Times confirmed that the investigation is centered around social media posts accusing Franco of engaging in an inappropriate sexual relationship.
Franco responded dismissively to the allegations in a video shared on social media, denying the claims and suggesting that people have nothing better to do with their time.
At 22 years old, Franco is currently in his third season with the Rays and was selected as an All-Star for the first time this year. He has impressive stats with a .281 batting average, 17 home runs, and 30 stolen bases.
In June, Franco was benched for two games due to unspecified disciplinary reasons. At that time, Cash stated that Franco had not handled his frustrations in the manner expected of a teammate.
The Rays made a significant investment in Franco’s future in 2021 by signing him to an 11-year, $182 million contract, which was the richest deal ever for a player with less than one year in the majors.
Despite a strong start to the season, the Rays currently hold the second position in the American League East, trailing the Baltimore Orioles by three games. However, they are in a favorable position to secure one of the A.L.’s three wild cards.