Former MLB All-Star Wander Franco has officially been charged with some disturbing crimes in the Dominican Republic. Photo Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Jul 22, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco (5) bats in the sixth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Wander Franco has formally been charged with some disturbing crimes in the Dominican Republic.

Juan Arturo Recio of ESPN Dominican Republic reported Franco’s charges on Tuesday night. Recio shared on X (formerly Twitter) that Franco was “formally charged by Dominican authorities for the crimes of sexual abuse and sexual exploitation against a minor.”

Franco turned 23 in March.

The filing of formal charges comes just under a year after the allegations against him surfaced. It was announced on Aug. 22, 2023 that the Tampa Bay Rays had placed Franco on leave.

Franco was once regarded as baseball’s top prospect. He also made the American League All-Star team in 2023. Not long after that, the allegations came. Franco last played for the Rays on Aug. 12.

Even before he was officially placed on leave, it was strongly speculated that Franco’s MLB career was over. Nothing that has happened since has done anything to dispel that notion.

[Juan Arturo Recio on X]

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