Wander Franco, the Major League Baseball star who allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, reportedly had homes in his native Dominican Republic raided by police on Tuesday.
According to Listin Diario, police attended his family home in Palo Blanco before then going to another home in the Villa Real area. The Tampa Bay Rays player, who is currently suspended by the team, was not apparently at either residency.
The publication also claims that authorities left telephone numbers with Franco’s wife for him to contact them.
Franco has always kept his wife out of the spotlight, never naming her in interviews – but earlier this year DailyMail.com revealed she is 21-year-old Rachelly Paulino. They have two children together.
The 22-year-old Franco has been under investigation since multiple allegations surfaced across social media in August. It is not clear if the raids concern a specific allegation or are connected to them all. DailyMail.Com has contacted the Dominican Republic prosecutors for comment.
Franco has denied the allegations, going live on his Instagram account when they first emerged to address them.
‘They’re saying I got with a young girl, that I’m running around with a minor out there,’ Franco told teammates, in Spanish, during his live broadcast. ‘How crazy is that, dude? People don’t know what to do with their time.
‘Those people need to get moving. One is here focused, doing my thing, you see, thanks to God. That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anybody because people are so gossipy.’
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18.
Tampa Bay signed Franco to an $182million, 11-year contract in November 2021, a deal with a team option for 2033 that could be worth $223million.
MLB itself put Franco on administrative league back in August as the league carried out its own investigation, which is still ongoing. A player continues to receive pay and accrue major league service while on administrative leave.
‘Per an agreement between MBL and the MLBPA, Wander Franco has been placed on Administrative Leave until further notice as MLB continues its ongoing investigation,’ the MLB statement read.
‘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.’
Baseball is currently in the offseason and the Rays don’t have their first spring training game until February 24 against Atlanta Braves.
Their MLB season starts properly on March 28, at home to Toronto Blue Jays.
When the allegations against Franco surfaced, the Rays removed him from any posters and billboards around the team’s Tropicana Field stadium.
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