Wander Franco has reportedly been placed under arrest in the Dominican Republic.
Per Z101 Digital's Hector Gomez, Franco was arrested after an interrogation from prosecutors in the Dominican Republic over allegations he had relationships with minors. ESPN's Juan Recio added that Franco's arrest stemmed from not appearing at the summons and not because of the stage of the investigation into the allegations.
To date, there have been no criminal charges filed against Franco.
Franco was placed on the restricted list on Aug. 14 and put on administrative leave on Aug. 22 over social media allegations that he had relationships with minors. He did not appear again for the Rays in 2023.
There have since been at least two lawsuits filed against Franco alleging inappropriate relationships, and he is reportedly under investigation for a relationship with a third minor.
Here's the latest on the investigation into Franco.
Wander Franco arrested: Latest news, updates
Monday, Jan. 1
Franco was issued a summons by prosecutors in the Dominican Republic in late December, but reportedly did not respond to the summons. Per Gomez, he appeared at the district attorney's office in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and after an investigation, he was placed under arrest.
Rays Wander Franco with his lawyers. Franco appeared to the District Attorney’s Office at Puerto Plata (North of the Dominican Republic). pic.twitter.com/ZxtvclQC2M
— Héctor Gómez (@hgomez27) January 1, 2024
Gomez added that Franco will be arraigned on Wednesday, Jan. 3, and prosecutors are expected to ask for Franco to be kept in jail without bail.
Recio reported Franco will be appearing before a Court of Investigation, and until then, will remain in custody of the Puerto Plata Prosecutor's Office.
Law enforcement officials searched Franco's home in Villa Real and his mother's home in Palo Blanco on Dec. 26, and authorities then went to his uncles' homes the following day, per the Tampa Bay Times. He was not at either location, and his wife was told Franco should contact authorities.
The Tampa Bay Times reported that he was summoned, and that lawyers who had been representing Franco said they were fired by him and had not been able to get the summons to him.
A Rays official told the Times on Monday the team had no comment on the latest reports.