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 who were looking for him on Tuesday.
According to Listin Diario, the Santa Domingo Prosecutor’s Office carried out raids on his family home in Palo Blanco before then going to another home in the Villa Real area from 3pm local time, in search of the baseball player.
The Tampa Bay Rays man, who is currently suspended by the team, was not 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 are childhood sweethearts and 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.
Police in Dominican Republic reportedly raided two homes of Wander Franco on Tuesday
The 22-year-old Franco is facing allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a minor
Rachelly Paulino, 21, was Wander Franco’s childhood sweetheart and they married in 2021, but the baseball standout has never mentioned her name publicly
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 leave 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. Franco has stayed silent since.
‘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.’
Franco signed an 11-year-deal with MLB team Tampa Bay Rays worth a huge $182million
Franco, 22, has denied the allegations but faces huge questions over his baseball career
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.
Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz said in August that he had tried reaching out to the 22-year-old.
‘When I heard about this situation, I tried to make myself available to Wander to see how I could help him because I really wanted to know what was happening with that kid,’ Ortiz said last week on Grandes En Los Deportes.
The Boston Red Sox legend said he previously sat down with the shortstop during the ‘Midsummer Classic’ festivities in Seattle in July.
‘I spent a long time talking to Wander at the All-Star Game, I really liked him because he is a good kid, like all youth,’ Ortiz said. ‘But the mission of one as a veteran is to guide those kids, not trample on them or mistreat them.’
