The Tampa Bay Rays and star Wanderer Franco have mutually announced that he will be transferred to the restricted list and will not be with the club during their current road trip. A source in the league confirmed to the athlete Major League Baseball has launched an official investigation into the matter.
The development comes after the Rays told multiple outlets Sunday night that MLB is looking into social media posts regarding 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 Wonder Franco,” said the Rays statement on Sunday. “We take the situation very seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts due diligence.”
After the news broke, several media outlets reported that Franco denied the allegations during an Instagram Live segment. The post is no longer available for viewing on Instagram and it is not clear when it was posted.
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 nod this season. Each of the Rays’ past 20 games has started before Sunday. Tampa Bay faces the Giants on Monday in San Francisco.
(Photo: Thomas Skrlj/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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