Is Major League Baseball “superstar” Wander Franco (Tampa Bay Rays) considering a move to the Japanese Professional Baseball or the KBO League? Considering his current predicament, he might be following the same path as players who were effectively banished from the big leagues due to past scandals.
Franco was one of the top-tier stars representing the Major League. Before his major league debut, he received massive attention, being ranked the #1 prospect. In the 2018 Rookie League, Franco played 61 games, recording 11 home runs with a batting average of메이저사이트 기준 .351 and an OPS of 1.005. He excelled in the Triple-A in early 2021, playing 40 games and achieving an impressive stat line.
Amid high expectations, Franco was called up to the major leagues in the 2021 season, showing off his extraordinary talent. Prior to the 2022 season, he secured a massive 11-year, $182 million (approximately 244.4 billion won) contract with Tampa Bay. Given that the Rays are a “small-market” team, this contract was truly monumental.
Although Franco’s performance in the 2022 season was somewhat subdued compared to his debut, this year he seemed to be regaining his top prospect reputation. However, his MLB career might face an abrupt end.
Franco, who got married after the 2021 season and has two children, is implicated in a minor sexual assault case. Recent rumors on social media suggest Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, and a 17-year-old girl from the Dominican Republic has filed a complaint against him. Multiple sources indicate that there may be more than one minor involved.
Franco is currently under investigation by Dominican prosecutors and hasn’t played since his game against the Cleveland Guardians on August 13th. Worst-case scenario projections suggest he may not continue his baseball career in MLB.
According to Héctor Gómez of “Z101 Digital” in the Dominican Republic, considering the current investigation, “Franco’s chances of playing in MLB again are very slim.” He added, “It wouldn’t be surprising if Franco never plays in MLB again. If he’s found guilty, it would be a significant precedent in MLB history.”
Even if Franco is not convicted, the MLB can impose penalties on players based solely on allegations related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or child abuse.
If the league takes action, Tampa Bay might consider terminating Franco’s contract. Other players, like Fernando Tatis Jr., faced contract termination discussions under different circumstances.
Recently, both MLB and its teams have taken a strict stance on domestic violence, sexual offenses, and child-related crimes. Notably, Trevor Bauer (Yokohama DeNA BayStars), who was embroiled in sexual assault allegations in 2021, was released by the LA Dodgers, even after being found not guilty due to lack of evidence. Similarly, Yasiel Puig (former Kiwoom Heroes),토토사이트 순위 Edison Russell (former Kiwoom), and Roberto Osuna (SoftBank Hawks) faced challenges due to their alleged misconduct.
Franco, who secured a jackpot contract after the 2021 season, might lose his remaining salary if released. With his annual salary for this season being $2,454,546 (about 3.3 billion won), giving up his baseball career isn’t an immediate option for his livelihood. If expelled from MLB, his only choices might be the Japanese Professional Baseball or the KBO League.
Both Bauer and Osuna continued their careers in Japanese baseball after their MLB controversies, while Puig and Russell joined the KBO League’s Kiwoom Heroes. However, these are just potential scenarios if Franco is found innocent. Signing Franco after a guilty verdict would be a significant burden from a moral perspective.
Currently, Franco denies all allegations related to child abuse. However, the chances of a guilty verdict seem high. Once hailed as MLB’s top prospect and securing a beyond-imaginable contract, Franco now faces a crisis that might jeopardize everything.