Wander Franco making push to return to field after sexual abuse trial — but he might not be eligible
Wander Franco, a 25-year-old former MLB infielder, is attempting to return to the baseball diamond despite being found guilty in May of sexually abusing a minor. Franco's push to play for the Dominican Republic during the Central American and Caribbean Games, which start later this month, may be in vain, however, as he was left off the team's "long list" of candidates for its roster.
The Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOM) is working to get Franco cleared to play, stating that it is handling procedures with the Dominican Olympic Committee to register Franco through the platform. "We, as the Dominican Baseball Federation, have been handling the procedures with the Dominican Olympic Committee in order to allow us to register Wander through the platform so that he can play with us," FEDOM told the Tampa Bay Times in a statement. "We are hopeful and very confident that we will receive a positive response."
Photo: nypost.com
Despite FEDOM's optimism, Garibaldy Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, insists that Franco remains ineligible for the tournaments. "Simply put, he is not on the long list and cannot be registered on the Dominican team to participate in the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games," Bautista said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Franco's ineligibility is due to his not being on the team's roster, which is a requirement for participation in the games.
Franco's case has garnered significant attention in recent months, particularly given the unusual circumstances surrounding the trial. Franco was found guilty of the sexual and psychological exploitation of a minor, but he did not face any jail time. Instead, the victim's mother received a 10-year prison sentence for allegedly profiting from payments made by Franco to consent to his relationship with the teen. Franco, who is on MLB's restricted list, has been unable to play in the major or minor leagues since August 2023, along with the Dominican Winter League, which has arrangements with MLB.
Photo: nypost.com
Franco's comments to the press after the trial suggest that he remains committed to his career, despite the setbacks. "To my fans, keep supporting me, trust in God and with the faith in God, I'll soon be back," Franco said while walking out of the court in May. "In this process, I learned to never give up and to value family. Value your family because they will always be there." Whether or not Franco will be able to return to the field remains to be seen, but his push to participate in the Central American and Caribbean Games has highlighted the complexities surrounding his case.
Source: NYPOST
