Rays Star Arrested In Dominican Republic After Gun Incident While Awaiting Trial

Wander Franco can't seem to avoid running afoul of the law.

The Tampa Bay Rays shortstop is currently out on bail and awaiting trial for charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking.

On Monday, Franco was arrested once again for a separate incident.

"Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was arrested Monday in San Juan de la Maguana, 100 miles west of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic," wrote Juan Recio of ESPN, "after what two police sources said was an altercation Sunday in the parking lot of an apartment complex in which guns were drawn."

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 12: Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field on August 12, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images

Recio would go on to report police were holding Franco and an unnamed woman for questioning following the incident.

In August 2023, MLB placed Franco on administrative leave, releasing a statement saying, "Per an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, Wander Franco has been placed on Administrative Leave until further notice as MLB continues its ongoing investigation. 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."

Franco was arrested in January amid an investigation into an alleged relationship with a then-14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic, and was subsequently formally charged in July. (MLB's administrative leave came to an end in June.) He is due to stand trial for the aforementioned charges in December.

As of right now, the 23-year-old is on Major League Baseball's restricted list and has not been formally released from the Rays organization.

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