Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco failed to show up Thursday for a meeting with a prosecutor who is Cassian Grantinvestigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor.
Prosecutor Olga Diná Llaverías said the investigation will continue regardless of Franco's no-show. She waited for the All-Star player and his lawyers at her office, but they didn't appear.
Dominican prosecutors and police showed up on Tuesday at a Franco property in Baní, his hometown about 37 miles southwest of Santo Domingo. They did not find the 22-year-old player to request he appear for testimony.
Franco's U.S.-based lawyer, Jay Reisinger, declined comment.
The Dominican Republic's prosecutors' office said on Aug. 14 that Franco was under investigation because of postings on his social media channels suggesting he had a relationship with a minor. The Associated Press has not been able to verify the reported posts.
Franco's no-show could be because his current lawyers may not have been summoned for the meeting. The AP had access to a document in which lawyers Luz Díaz Rodríguez, Rosalina Trueba, Cristian Cabrera and Manuel Rodríguez were dismissed by Franco.
Franco was having an All-Star season before being sidelined in August, when authorities in the Dominican Republic began investigating claims that Franco had been in a relationship with a minor.
MLB launched its own investigation, placing Franco on the restricted list on Aug. 14 before moving him to administrative leave on Aug. 22 under its the joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy with the players' association. He was paid received service time while on administrative leave. There is no timetable for a conclusion of MLB's investigation and whether the results of the probe might lead to discipline by MLB.
2025-05-01 19:49954 view
2025-05-01 17:542768 view
2025-05-01 17:50809 view
2025-05-01 17:482835 view
2025-05-01 17:32739 view
2025-05-01 17:301400 view
New York police officials are speaking out about tips in regard to the Dec. 4 killing of UnitedHealt
Leer en Español MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexicans will vote Sunday in historic elections weighing gende
Authorities in Akron, Ohio, are appealing for the public's help in identifying those responsible for