The Controversial Case of Wander Franco

As a writer on Vocal, I do my best to encourage everyone to learn sone lessons and take something away from certain stories I write about. The following topic for this story needs to be discussed without being sugar-coated. We'll be talking about Wander Franco, the disgraced MLB player. I use the word disgraced heavily, simply because of what he did. Then, I'll address parents and baseball fans. Finally, I'll share my thoughts towards the end. This story will mention sexual abuse and may not be suitable for all readers, so please read at your own discretion. Before we get to the latest news involving Wander Franco, let's learn more about his life and career.

Born on March 1, 2001, in the Dominican Republic, Wander Samuel Franco Aybar signed with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017 and made his Major League Baseball debut four years later. He was 20 years old at the time of his promotion to the major leagues. Franco finished third in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Fellow teammate Randy Arozarena ended up winning the aforementioned award. He was selected to his first and only All-Star Game in 2023, replacing Aaron Judge, who was injured.

A month later, Franco was placed on the league's restricted list and later on indefinite administrative leave, due to allegations that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a minor. In July 2024, Franco was charged with sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of a minor, as well as human trafficking in his native Dominican Republic. He received a two-year suspended sentence less than a year later, but it was overturned in December of that year. A second trial was scheduled for March 2026. Recently, he was was found criminally responsible for the psychological and sexual abuse of a minor a second time. However, he avoided prison time and was granted a judicial pardon. The victim's mother was sentenced to 10 years in prison for money laundering. Franco will be formally sentenced on June 16.

One comment on social media that disturbed me was that if Wander Franco were to make a comeback before Trevor Bauer, whom I'll discuss in a later story, that he would riot. At the end of the day, Wander Franco committed a crime and since it involved a minor, that fact cannot be overlooked or swept under the rug.

Parents, we need to have an honest conversation. Let Wander Franco's story be a reminder that not every athlete, regardless of sport, is worth looking up to or have the role model label attached to them. For example, I've been vocal about cheaters in baseball who have selfishly did anything they could to win awards. This includes the Houston Astros, whom I've written about in previous stories. Cheating is an unforgivable act and trust from fans is easily broken. Parents, you need to teach your children that not every athlete is a good person. Even athletes who are well respected can have sketchy pasts, too. I have to put the blame a bit on both parents and sports fans in general for putting certain athletes on pedestals and holding them to impossible standards. If they slip one time, you're going to say that they let you down. Athletes aren't perfect and we don't expect them to. That's the whole point. I'm not saying to not admire them. I'm saying that everyone needs to be cautious of who they look up to and idolize. I don't and will never live vicariously through athletes or public figures. At the end of the day, they're regular people just like us. They make mistakes and go through hardships. So, parents, have that heart to heart, difficult conversation with your children about what I've discussed.

Wander Franco may have been pardoned by the judicial court, but he's not an innocent victim in my eyes. The true victim was the young girl he had absolutely no business being involved with in the first place. What he did to that young girl was disgusting and took away her innocence. I see Wander as a predator rather than a baseball player. He made his MLB debut at 20 years old, just for him to throw his entire career away in a span of three years. In my opinion, his MLB career is all but over. Even if he were given an opportunity to play baseball again, it wouldn't be with either MLB or MiLB. He might play somewhere in the Dominican Republic or another country, if someone is lucky enough to give him a chance. That chance of that happening is slim to none. Either way, he'll always come under scrutiny, due to the nature of the crimes he committed. I'm a believer of second chances, but in the case of Wander Franco, he's not worthy of another opportunity or forgiveness. His career will forever be tainted. I couldn't believe how many people were defending Wander instead of condemning him for what he did to a minor. A young girl who will be forever traumatized because a grown man couldn't control his sexual urges. Abuse of any kind is unacceptable and shouldn't be excused under any circumstances, regardless of gender, race, or age. Wander Franco gets zero sympathy from me. I'm always going to call athletes out if they do things that are unbecoming and hold them accountable.