The Tampa Bay Rays acknowledged in a statement to multiple outlets Sunday night that Major League Baseball is looking into social media posts regarding shortstop Wander Franco, saying the team is in “close contact” with the league as it conducts “due diligence.”
The Rays did not specify the nature of the social media content in its statement. However, posts circulated online on Sunday alleging that Franco, 22, had entered into an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
“During today’s game, we became aware of social media posts that were circulating regarding Wanderer Franco,” the Rays statement said. “We take the situation very seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts due diligence.”
Tampa Bay coach Kevin Cash spoke about Franco not playing in the Rays’ 9-2 loss to the Guardians on Sunday, saying it was “just the day off.”
“I am aware of the speculation. I will not comment further on that,” Cash told reporters. “But the day off was because it (a) day off.”
Franco, in his third year with Tampa Bay, earned his first All-Star promotion of the season. Each of the Rays’ past 20 games has started before Sunday. The Tampa Bay Giants next face the Giants on Monday in San Francisco.
(Photo: Thomas Skrlj/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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