Latest news with #WanderFranco
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
What happened to Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco? Human trafficking scandal involving 14-year-old victim's mother explained
Wander Franco has been accused of human traficcking a 14 year old girl.(Image via Chris O'Meara/AP) The Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco was once considered to be a pretty promising player in the team and his fans had huge hopes from the star player until it all came crashing down a year ago when he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor in the Dominican Republic. This news had sent shockwaves across the league and here is everything that happened. Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco was involved in the trafficking of a 14 year old girl and was helped by the victim's mother Wander Franco was 17 years old when he signed a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays for a whopping signing bonus of $3.85 million. He was also ranked as one of the top international prospects in the 2017 international class. — JDunlap1974 (@JDunlap1974) All was going well for the Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco and he even ended up tying the knot with his wife in 2021 after the two became parents to two boys in 2018 and 2022. While Wander Franco's career in the MLB was just taking off, when on 9th July 2024, he was charged with allegations of human trafficking , sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual abuse in the Dominican Republic. The MLB had immediately suspended him and also reacted to the whole scandal. Last year, the league issued an official statement that read as, 'We are aware of the charges against Mr. Franco. Our investigation remains open, and we will continue to closely monitor the case as it moves forward.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Our one of a kind Patented Cold Water Extraction Process Superior Ginseng Undo On 26th June 2025, the Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco was found guilty in the Dominican Republic and the young player received a suspended sentence of two years in prison. As per reports, Wander Franco was accused of being in a sexual relationship with a 14 year old girl when he was 21 years old. The young victim's mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, was also convicted and has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Apparently, the prosecutors were able to prove that the victim's mother had gained a considerable amount of money by trafficking her young daughter to Wander Franco. With this, Wander Franco's visa issue remains complicated as he has not been able to play in the league since 2023. Also Read: MLB fan sparks outrage after being removed from stadium for interfering with the match in Diamondbacks vs. Giants game For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Wall Street Journal
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Wall Street Journal
The Hottest Team in Baseball Is Winning the Old-Fashioned Way
No team in baseball came into the season facing more turbulent headwinds than the Tampa Bay Rays. A hurricane had torn the roof off their stadium, forcing them to shack up at a spring training facility. Their young superstar, Wander Franco, was awaiting trial in the Dominican Republic on charges of sexually abusing a teenage girl, a crime for which he has since been convicted. Rumors of a potential sale of the franchise were swirling following the collapse of a hotly anticipated deal to build a new ballpark in St. Petersburg.
Associated Press
27-06-2025
- Associated Press
Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco convicted of sexually abusing a child and gets a suspended sentence
By MARTÍN ADAMES and MARTIN ADAMES Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — Suspended Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was convicted of sexually abusing a child and handed a two-year suspended sentence Thursday. Franco was arrested last year after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time, and of transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship . Franco, now 24, was found not guilty of charges of sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor and human trafficking. Judge Jakayra Veras García said Franco made a bad decision as she addressed him during the ruling. 'Look at us, Wander,' she said. 'Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don't like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time.' Prosecutors had requested a five-year prison sentence against Franco and a 10-year sentence against the girl's mother, who was found guilty and will serve the full term. 'Apparently she was the one who thought she was handling the bat in the big leagues,' Veras said of the mother and her request that Franco pay for her daughter's schooling and other expenses. Franco's attorney, Irina Ventura, said she would appeal the judge's ruling: 'Evidently, justice was not done.' Meanwhile, prosecutor Luis Martínez said he was pleased with the rulings but did not say whether the government would appeal. Before the three judges issued their unanimous ruling, Veras reviewed the extensive evidence prosecutors presented during trial, including testimony from 31 witnesses. 'This is a somewhat complex process,' Veras said. More than an hour into her presentation, Veras said: 'The court has understood that this minor was manipulated.' As the judge continued her review, Franco looked ahead expressionless, leaning forward at times. Franco, who was once the team's star shortstop, had signed a $182 million, 11-year contract through 2032 in November 2021 but saw his career abruptly halted in August 2023 after authorities in the Dominican Republic announced they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time. In January 2024, authorities arrested Franco in the Dominican Republic. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave. He was placed on that list because he has not been able to report to the team and would need a new U.S. visa to do so. While Franco awaited trial on conditional release, he was arrested again in November last year following what Dominican authorities called an altercation over a woman's attention. He was charged with illegally carrying a semiautomatic Glock 19 that police said was registered to his uncle. That case is still pending in court. After the ruling, Major League Baseball issued a brief statement noting it had collectively bargained a joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy 'that reflects our commitment to these issues.' 'We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,' MLB said. ___ Associated Press writers Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Ron Blum in New York contributed to this report.
New York Post
27-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Will Wander Franco, convicted of sexually assaulting a minor, play in MLB again?
Rays shortstop Wander Franco received a two-year suspended prison after being found guilty of sexually abusing a minor in the Dominican Republic. The ruling has raised questions about the 24-year-old's MLB future. He is on MLB's restricted list and last played Aug. 12, 2023, and it's certainly possible he will not play again in the majors. 4 Dominican Major League Baseball player Wander Franco attends a trial at the Palace of Justice in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on June 26, 2025. Orlando Barría/EPA/Shutterstock Franco signed a franchise record 11-year, $182 million extension with the Rays in 2021 that can be worth up to $223 million and includes a club option for the 2033 season. Sportico noted how Thursday's ruling affects whether Franco will be allowed to enter the United States since he has a criminal record in a foreign country. Franco reportedly could remain in the United States from 2021-23 due to a visa, and this ruling could affect whether he can obtain another visa. ESPN said it's 'likely' Franco will have trouble getting a visa and he would remain on the restricted list without one. The U.S. Department of State can shoot down a visa application if an applicant has a criminal history, including sexual abuse, per Sportico. 4 wander Franco at his trial on June 26, 2025. AP MLB is still investigating the situation and could levy discipline on Franco. He is not paid while on the restricted list. The league could make him ineligible through its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, although Franco could appeal such a decision, per Sportico. Franco also was charged in the Dominican Republic for illegal possession of a handgun in June and the case is pending, per ESPN. 4 Wander Franco in 2023. AP 'Major League Baseball is proud to have a collectively bargained Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy that reflects our commitment to these issues,' the league said in a statement released Thursday, per 'We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time.' The Rays could try to void the contract due to Franco violating clauses regarding conduct, with Franco being found guilty for sexually abusing a 14-year-old while he was 21. As Sportico noted, though, that could be a slippery slope, with the Padres losing a battle in 1987 after pitcher LaMarr Hoyt received a 45-day jail sentence. 4 Wander Franco #5 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a two run homer against the Yankees during a 2023 game. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Tampa Bay could always just release Franco, although such a decision would almost surely come after the two-year sentence and following any potential MLB discipline. The sides could also attempt to negotiate a buyout. Should Franco become a free agent, it's still uncertain of whether any other teams would be willing to sign him following this conviction. MLB teams have not signed pitcher Trevor Bauer after he received a two-year suspension — eventually reduced to 192 games — following assault allegations. Bauer was not found guilty of a crime and has accused the league owners of being blackballed.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The Rockies are off to one of the worst 81-game starts in MLB history
Yahoo Sports AM is our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it every weekday morning. 🚨 Headlines ⚾️ Franco found guilty: Former Rays star Wander Franco was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor and given a two-year suspended prison sentence, meaning he can remain free if he meets certain conditions. Advertisement 🏈 Tucker suspended: The NFL is suspending Justin Tucker for the first 10 weeks of the season following its investigation into accusations of sexual misconduct against the former Ravens kicker. ⚾️ MLB All-Star voting: Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were named starters for next month's All-Star Game after leading their respective leagues in voting at the end of Phase 1. Full list of finalists. ⚽️ The Round of 16: Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, Champions League winners PSG, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern Munich headline the Club World Cup knockout stage, which begins this weekend. ♠️ Poker scandal: The World Series of Poker is investigating after the winner and runner-up of a Millionaire Maker event were accused of colluding to earn a combined $2.3 million in prize money. ⚾️ The worst 81-game starts in MLB history () We're midway through the MLB season, and the Rockies are 18-63, making them just the fifth team in AL/NL history to win fewer than 19 of their first 81 games — and the first in 121 years. Advertisement 2025 Colorado Rockies (18-63 through 81 games) This team seems stuck in an endless rebuild, last finishing above .500 in 2018. And with MLB's 18th-ranked farm system, and few if any veterans worth trading for prospects at the deadline, there isn't much hope of them getting better anytime soon. If the second half of their season goes the same as the first, they'll finish with by far the worst run differential (-426) and record (36-126) in modern MLB history* (since 1901). The 1888 Nationals at Boston's South End Grounds. (George H. Hastings/Library of Congress) 1886 Washington Nationals (13-68) This iteration of the Nationals, just one in a long line of teams bearing the same name, never quite escaped the lows of this wretched first season. They folded three years later, but remain an important part of baseball history: 1886 rookie catcher Connie Mack went on to become the winningest manager in MLB history and 1888 rookie outfielder William Hoy, who was deaf, pioneered baseball's use of hand signals. The 1889 Alleghenys, a year before their top players left for the Players' League. (Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics via Getty Images) 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys (18-63) Advertisement Pittsburgh's roster was decimated in 1890 when many of its best players jumped ship for the short-lived Players' League. They got their roster back the following year when the PL folded and they even poached a star player from the A's in a controversial move that some called "piratical." It didn't take long for newspapers to give the team a new nickname that quickly became their official moniker: the Pirates. The 1898 Spiders, one year before they were gutted. (Cleveland Spiders) 1899 Cleveland Spiders (14-67) This team was historically awful, compiling a .130 winning percentage (20-134) and -723 run differential that are both by far the worst in MLB history. It's no mystery why this happened: After seven straight winning seasons led by their ace Cy Young, the Spiders' owners bought the St. Louis Browns (now the Cardinals) and brought all their best players there. Rather than disband the Spiders, they played one final season with the worst players from both teams. Walter Johnson before Opening Day of the 1916 season. () 1904 Washington Senators (18-63) Advertisement "Washington: First in war, first in peace, and last in the American League." Those words, famously written by sportswriter Charles Dryden, summed up the franchise's early struggles, which reached a nadir in their abysmal 1904 season (38-113-6). They changed their name to the Nationals the following year, and their fortunes began turning in 1907 when a young Walter Johnson debuted. In 1961, they moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. *Who they're chasing: The 1932 Red Sox currently hold the record for worst modern run differential (-345), which is 81 runs better than the Rockies' pace. And last year's White Sox lost 121 games, five fewer than Colorado's current pace of 126. 🏀 NBA Draft: In review (Yahoo Sports) That's a wrap for the 2025 NBA Draft, which was well-represented internationally. Advertisement Second round: Full draft: Grades for every team ⚽️ Club World Cup pitches draw criticism A "Please Keep Off" sign at Lumen Field in Seattle. () Suboptimal grass fields at the Club World Cup are drawing heavy criticism from players and coaches. What does that mean for the 2026 World Cup? From Yahoo Sports' Henry Bushnell: "The pitches," Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham said, "aren't great." They've been "slow," according to multiple players, and "dry." From New Jersey to Seattle, grass fields in place for the Club World Cup have been "totally different" than the ones European teams are used to. Advertisement On some, Bellingham said, the ball "holds up" and "barely bounces"; on another, PSG coach Luis Enrique said, it was "jumping around like a rabbit." At MetLife Stadium, Borussia Dortmund's Niklas Süle was blunt: "The pitch was pretty terrible." And no, they weren't making excuses. Bellingham and Enrique were speaking after victories. They were merely highlighting what Enrique called "an obvious problem," and one that looms over the 2026 World Cup. "Hopefully," Bellingham concluded, "someone will look at that going into the World Cup next year." Fortunately, scores of experts have been looking into it. And in fact, one reason for the suboptimal Club World Cup surfaces is that, in some cases, infrastructure installed specifically for 2026 isn't yet in use. Advertisement Keep reading. 📸 In photos: Wimbledon preview Lorenzo Musetti serves during a practice session. () The 138th Wimbledon Championships begin on Monday, where 256 men and women — drawn into their brackets earlier this morning — will compete for equal $4.1 million grand prizes. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club from above. () The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, which has hosted Wimbledon since the inaugural event in 1877, features 18 match courts and an additional 20 practice courts. But the tournament also relies on 34 qualifying courts and 16 extra practice courts at two nearby venues. A classic Wimbledon bouquet. (Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images) It's no easy feat to grow and maintain the grass at all 88 of those courts — nor to embed and bloom the 28,000 plants that make this tournament as beautiful as it is iconic. It takes a team of 20 to ensure that "Day 14 [looks] as good as day one," the head gardener told The Athletic ($). Alcaraz during a practice session this week. () On the men's side, the question will be if anyone can stop two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who's won 18 straight matches. Eyes on the prize for Aryna. (Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images) And on the women's side, No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will try to tame the only major she's never reached the finals in. She's finished as the runner-up in each of this year's first two majors. 📺 Weekend Watchlist The results of the NHL Draft Lottery back in May. (Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) 🏒 NHL Draft | Fri-Sat, ESPN/ESPN+ Round 1 is tonight in Los Angeles (7pm ET, ESPN), where the Islanders are likely to take OHL defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first pick. Rounds 2-7 are on Saturday (11am, ESPN+). ⚽️ Club World Cup, Round of 16 | Sat-Sun, DAZN Lionel Messi has never faced one of his former clubs in an official match… until now, with Inter Miami and PSG meeting on Sunday in Atlanta (12pm, DAZN). Elsewhere: Palmeiras vs. Botafogo in Philly (Sat. 12pm), Benfica vs. Chelsea in Charlotte (Sat. 4pm) and Bayern Munich vs. Flamengo in Miami Gardens (Sun. 4pm). ⚽️ Gold Cup, Quarterfinals | Sat-Sun, Fox/FS1 The USMNT faces Costa Rica on Sunday night in Minneapolis (7pm, Fox) for a spot in the semifinals. The other matchups: Panama vs. Honduras (Sat. 7:15pm, Fox), Mexico vs. Saudi Arabia (Sat. 10:15pm, FS1) and Canada vs. Guatemala (Sun. 4pm, FS1). 🏀 Fever at Wings | Fri. 7:30pm, ION Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers, who entered college together in 2020 and won three of the last five POY awards, meet for the first time in the WNBA. (Clark, who missed Thursday's game with a groin injury, is questionable.) Advertisement More to watch: ⚽️ Friendly: USWNT vs. Ireland (Sun. 3pm, TNT) … The two sides meet again after the Americans shut out the Irish, 4-0, on Thursday. ⚾️ MLB: Cardinals at Guardians (Fri. 7pm, Apple); Mariners at Rangers (Sat. 4pm, FS1); Twins at Tigers (Sun. 7pm, ESPN) ⛳️ PGA: Rocket Classic (Fri-Sun, ESPN+/Golf/CBS) … Kevin Roy and Aldrich Potgieter (-10) both shot a course record 62 to take the lead in Detroit. ⛳️ LIV: Dallas (Fri-Sun, Fox/FS2) … At Maridoe Golf Club. 🏎️ F1: Austrian Grand Prix (Sun. 9am, ESPN) 🏁 NASCAR: Atlanta (Sat. 7pm, TNT) … The inaugural In-Season Challenge begins. 🥍 PLL: Week 5 (Fri-Sat, ESPN/ESPN+) … In San Diego. Full weekend slate → 🎾 Wimbledon trivia () Carlos Alcaraz will look to make history at this year's Wimbledon, where he can become the fifth man in the Open Era (since 1968) to win three straight singles titles. Question: Who would he join? Hint: The photo gives one away! Answer at the bottom. 🍿 Now playing Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. () "F1 The Movie" hits theaters today, and it has all the makings of a classic summer blockbuster. 84% on Rotten Tomatoes. Synopsis: Dubbed "the greatest that never was," Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was Formula 1's most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Advertisement 30 years later, he's a nomadic racer-for-hire when he's approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling F1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to F1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He'll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team's hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny's past catches up with him and he finds that in F1, your teammate is your fiercest competition — and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone. Watch the trailer. Trivia answer: Björn Borg (1976-80), Pete Sampras (1993-95, 1997-2000), Roger Federer (2003-07), Novak Djokovic (2018-22) We hope you enjoyed this edition of Yahoo Sports AM, our daily newsletter that keeps you up to date on all things sports. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.
