The sexual abuse trial against Tampa Bay Rays player Wander Franco was scheduled to begin Thursday. However, 28 of the 31 witnesses scheduled to testify were absent, so the testimony was postponed to June.
Franco is charged with sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor, and human trafficking. His trial is scheduled to resume on June 2, 2025.
Dominican Judge Yacaila Velas postponed the trial at the request of prosecutors due to the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Only three of the 31 witnesses attended Thursday's trial.
Franco's lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing that Franco is required to report to spring training in mid-February.
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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco throws to first base in the bottom of the seventh inning against the Miami Marlins at Tropicana Field on July 25, 2023 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Jonathan Dyer/USA Today Sports)
“There is no case against Mr. Wander. No matter how many witnesses they present, there is no case at this point,” Teodosio Jacques, Mr. Franco's lead lawyer, told The Associated Press.
The judge responded that Franco was obligated to continue with his trial schedule and be released from detention conditionally.
The 23-year-old shortstop said his career is not over and he wants justice to be done, saying “everything is in God's hands.”
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When a reporter asked if his MLB career was over, Franco seemed upset.
“I didn't have a career,” he said, hinting that he still had one. “This isn't over yet.”
Franco was arrested in November on unrelated charges for his involvement in an alleged armed altercation in the country.
Tampa Bay Rays star Wander Franco is under investigation for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a minor. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara, File)
After the allegations became public last year, the Rays removed images of Franco around Tropicana Field. There are no signs that Franco merchandise will be sold at the Rays team store inside the stadium.
He agreed to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. In 2023, he was selected as an All-Star for the first time, hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs in 112 games.
Tampa Bay placed him on the team's restricted list on July 10 and terminated the salary he had been receiving while on administrative leave.
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Franco was eventually arrested after Dominican police searched two homes associated with Franco just before the New Year. He was subsequently released on the condition that he meet with local authorities once a month.
According to ESPN, Dominican prosecutors said Franco referred to the minor as “my girlfriend” in a WhatsApp message and admitted that the relationship was a “risk” but “I love her.” .
Franco reportedly wrote “my girlfriend” in Spanish. “If my team finds out about this, I could be in trouble. It's every team's rule that you can't talk to minors, but I still took the risk. , I liked it.”
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco celebrates after hitting a home run in the eighth inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers on August 6, 2023 at Comerica Park in Detroit. (Rick Osentosky/USA Today Sports)
Prosecutors say Franco's relationship with the now 15-year-old girl lasted four months and that Franco paid her not to talk about it. The girl's mother also faces charges of money laundering based on gifts sent by Franco. Franco and the girl met on December 9, 2022, after Franco “abducted her from her home” and began dating, having sex twice in two days.
Prosecutors said the minor's mother lived a flamboyant life as a banker and acquired assets with funds she received from Franco. Prosecutors said a search of the minor's mother's home found $68,500 and $35,000 allegedly delivered by Franco.
Documents say Franco gave the girl the equivalent of $46,000 in July and August and paid her mother about $1,700 a month, including a new car.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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