Wander Franco Found Guilty of Minor Abuse, Receives Judicial Pardon

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was declared criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor by a Dominican judge on Monday. Despite the guilty verdict, a three-person judicial panel granted Franco a judicial pardon, meaning he will not serve a prison sentence. Franco has been on MLB's restricted list since 2024. The complex legal ruling concluded that Franco was both a defendant and a victim, while the minor's mother was sentenced to prison for her involvement.