Wander Franco, the Major League Baseball star who allegedly had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, was reportedly searched in his native Dominican Republic on Tuesday by police searching for him.
According to Listin Diario, Santa Domingo prosecutors conducted raids on his family's home in Palo Blanco before going to another home in the Villa Real area to search for the baseball player starting at 3 p.m. local time.
The Tampa Bay Rays man, who is currently suspended from the team, was not at either residence. The publication also claims that authorities left phone numbers for Franco's wife so he could contact her.
Franco has always kept his wife out of the spotlight and never mentioned her by name in interviews – but earlier this year revealed that she was 21-year-old Rachelly Paulino. They have been lovers since childhood and have two children together.
Franco, 22, has been under investigation since several allegations surfaced on social media in August. It is not clear whether the raids concern a specific allegation or are related to all of them. DailyMail.Com has reached out to Dominican Republic prosecutors for comment.
Police in the Dominican Republic reportedly searched two of Wander Franco's homes on Tuesday
Franco, 22, is accused of having 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 and went online to address them on his Instagram account when they first surfaced.
“They say that I'm with a young girl, that I'm out there walking around with a minor,” Franco told his teammates in Spanish during his live broadcast. “How crazy is this, dude?” People don’t know what to do with their time.
“These people need to move.” One of them is focused here and doing my thing, thank God. “That’s why I prefer to be on my side and not get involved with anyone because people are so talkative.”
The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years.
Tampa Bay signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021, a contract with a team option for 2033 that could be worth $223 million.
MLB itself placed Franco on leave back in August as the league conducted its own investigation, which is still ongoing. A player continues to receive salary and accrue major league services while on administrative leave. Franco has remained silent ever since.
“Pursuant to 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 said.
“Administrative leave, effective immediately, does not constitute a disciplinary measure under the Common Directive on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse. “We will provide further comment in due course.”
Franco signed an 11-year contract with MLB team Tampa Bay Rays worth a whopping $182 million
Franco, 22, has denied the allegations but faces major questions about his baseball career
Baseball is currently in the offseason and the Rays don't have their first spring training game until February 24th against the Atlanta Braves.
Their MLB season begins March 28 at home against the Toronto Blue Jays.
When the allegations against Franco surfaced, the Rays removed him from all posters and billboards around the team's Tropicana Field stadium.
Baseball Hall of Famer David Ortiz said in August that he tried to contact 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 going on with this child,” Ortiz said on Grandes En Los last week Deportes.
The Boston Red Sox legend said he previously met with the shortstop during the Midsummer Classic festivities in Seattle in July.
“I talked to Wander for a long time at the All-Star Game, I really liked him because he's a good kid, like all young people,” Ortiz said. “But a veteran’s mission is to guide these children, not trample or abuse them.”