Wander Franco will not go to prison. A Dominican Republic judge found the former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop guilty for a second time on charges of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, then granted him a judicial pardon, according to Fox News.
The decision overturned Franco's original June 2025 conviction, in which he had received a two-year suspended sentence. The new ruling found Franco criminally responsible but also determined he was a victim of extortion and blackmail allegedly carried out by the minor's mother.
The case stems from a relationship Franco had with a 14-year-old girl beginning in December 2022. Franco was 21 at the time. Prosecutors sought a five-year prison sentence for the former All-Star. The court instead handed the harshest punishment to the girl's mother, sentencing her to 10 years in prison for money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation. During the proceedings, prosecutors detailed how she allegedly used her daughter as a financial commodity, extracting thousands of dollars from the wealthy MLB player in exchange for consenting to the relationship. Investigators previously uncovered more than $100,000 in cash during raids on her home.
Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Rays in 2021. He has not appeared in an MLB game since August 2023, when allegations involving the minor first surfaced on social media. He was placed on administrative leave before MLB moved him to its restricted list, freezing both his salary and service time. Roughly $160 million remains on his contract.
The pardon does not mean Franco's professional career is likely to resume. Under U.S. immigration law, the case likely qualifies as a crime involving moral turpitude. Because Franco was not fully exonerated, immigration experts believe it will be nearly impossible for him to secure the work visa necessary to return to Major League Baseball. The Rays are under no obligation to pay him if he cannot obtain a visa or report to the team. The organization could also attempt to void the remainder of the deal under morality clauses commonly included in professional sports contracts.
MLB's independent investigation under its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy remains ongoing. The league had previously said it was waiting for the Dominican Republic's legal process to conclude before issuing formal disciplinary action. That process has now ended, and a league decision is expected to follow.
