Prosecutors in the Dominican Republic officially summoned Wander Franco for questioning, according to a report from Enrique Rojas and Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN. Investigators continue to look into multiple allegations that the Rays shortstop has had inappropriate relationships with minors. ESPN reports that Franco and his attorneys are required to meet with government officials in Santo Domingo on Thursday at 11 a.m. local time.
The Rays placed Franco on the restricted list on Aug. 14, one day after social media allegations that Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor received widespread attention. The National Agency for Boys, Girls, Adolescents and Family and Gender Violence Unit in the Dominican Republic opened an investigation later that week.
In late August, ESPN reported that two more girls had made similar allegations (although one of them had not spoken with investigators). At the time, ESPN wrote that there were two formal complaints. There is nothing to suggest that isn’t still the case.
The Rays reinstated Franco onto their 40-man roster at the beginning of the offseason, a procedural move that didn’t indicate anything about the course of the investigation. MLB is also looking into the allegations but seems likely to wait for the legal process to play out before determining whether to impose discipline. Under the MLB/MLBPA domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, MLB can levy discipline regardless of whether a player is criminally charged.
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