Wander Franco avoids prison after judge grants pardon in abuse retrial

Former Major League Baseball All-Star Wander Franco He will escape prison despite being convicted a second time on charges of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor. A judge in the Dominican Republic granted a judicial pardon for the 25-year-old defender.

The decision overturned Franco’s original conviction in June 2025, for which he was given a two-year suspended prison sentence.

The charges against Franco stemmed from the former MLB player’s relationship with a 14-year-old girl, which began in December 2022 and lasted for months when the former baseball player was 21 years old. The court ruled that although Franco was criminally responsible for his actions, he was also the victim of an extortion and blackmail scheme allegedly planned by the minor’s mother.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco appears in court during his arraignment on charges of sexually abusing a minor on June 2, 2025, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. (Ricardo Hernandez/AP)

Prosecutors aggressively sought a five-year prison sentence for the Tampa Bay Rays star, but the court ultimately handed down the harshest sentence to the minor’s mother. Investigators had previously uncovered more than $100,000 in cash during raids on his Franco home.

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The mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering and commercial sexual exploitation.

During the trial, prosecutors detailed how he allegedly used his daughter as a financial commodity and extorted thousands of dollars from the wealthy MLB player in exchange for her consent to the relationship.

While Franco avoided prison time, his professional baseball career in Major League Baseball is already over. He signed an 11-year, $182 million contract extension with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021.

Wander Franco of the Tampa Bay Rays looks on before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field on June 8, 2023 in Tampa, Fla. (Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Franco has not appeared in an MLB game since August 2023, when allegations involving the underage player first broke on social media.

He was subsequently placed on administrative leave until MLB moved him to its restricted list, freezing both his salary and service time.

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The case likely qualifies as a “crime involving moral turpitude” under U.S. immigration law.

Because Franco has not been fully cleared, immigration experts believe it will be nearly impossible for him to obtain the work visa necessary to continue his Major League career.

Dominican baseball star Wander Franco gestures during his trial in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic on June 26, 2025. Franco was given a two-year suspended sentence after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a teenage girl. (Luis Tavarez/AFP)

This sentence also gives the Rays a significant advantage financially.

Since Franco has approximately $160 million remaining on his contract, the organization has no obligation to pay him if he cannot obtain a visa or report to the team.

The Rays may also seek to void the remainder of the agreement under morality clauses commonly included in professional sports contracts.

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Major League Baseball’s independent investigation under its Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy is ongoing.

MLB previously said it was waiting for the Dominican Republic’s legal process to conclude before taking formal disciplinary action.

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