Dom. Court Revokes Franco's Pardon

Wander Franco will not spend the next three years in a Dominican prison cell.

An appeals court in the Dominican Republic ruled on Thursday to revoke the judicial pardon previously granted to the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop. The decision upholds his conviction for sexual and psychological abuse of a minor. Prosecutors argued that the original pardon relied on a mistaken reading of laws meant for rare cases. The court agreed with the prosecution. The result leaves Franco with a suspended three-year prison sentence.

Franco remains free because he agreed to specific conditions. He must maintain a fixed residence and stay under judicial supervision. If he breaks any of these rules, he must serve the full three years in custody. The court cited Franco's age and the goal of social reintegration when setting these terms.

The case began in January 2024 when Franco was arrested. He faced charges related to a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl. He also paid thousands of dollars to the girl's mother to secure her consent. Franco was originally convicted in June 2025. The Tampa Bay Rays placed him on the restricted list six months later, ending his pay during administrative leave. He has not played in the majors since.

The court also finalized the penalty for the mother. She received a 10-year prison sentence for commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The court ordered the forfeiture of about $34,000 found in her possession. Prosecutors stated this money came from Franco in exchange for her consent to the relationship.

Neither Franco nor his lawyers spoke to reporters after leaving the courthouse. Major League Baseball declined to comment on the ruling. Franco can still appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Dominican Republic. The Tampa Bay Rays were eliminated from the World Series on Wednesday night by the Milwaukee Brewers.

The 25-year-old signed an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. His career paused in August 2023 when Dominican authorities announced an investigation into his alleged relationship with a minor. He was 22 at the time.