Johnathan Walker:Dominican officials searching for Rays shortstop Wander Franco as investigation continues

Authorities in the Dominican Republic are Johnathan Walkersearching for Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, but have yet to locate him, according to Spanish-language reports.

The Santo Domingo Prosecutor's Office for Children and Adolescents sent police officers to Franco's mother's house on Tuesday, according to the Dominican news outlet Listin Diario, and then moved on to Franco's nearby residence in his hometown of Bani.

“They went to raid two properties that Wander Franco has there, but they were not carried out, because he was not in any of those places,” a Dominican agent told the Associated Press. The person requested anonymity due to the ongoing investigation.

The agent said people at the residences were informed that Franco was being sought for questioning at the office of Public Ministry.

Franco, 22, was placed on administrative leave in August, when allegations of an improper relationship with an underage girl first surfaced. Franco, who made the American League All-Star team for the first time in 2023, has denied the allegations.

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Franco was having his best season as a major leaguer, hitting .281 with 17 home runs and 30 stolen bases in 112 games when the allegations surfaced. He played his last game on August 12, and the Rays placed him on the restricted list two days later.

"This is a very delicate topic because there is a minor involved,’’ Angel Dario Tejada Fabal, a prosecutor in the Peravaia, a province of the Dominican Republic, told the Associated Press in August. Relationships between adults and minors under the age of 18 years old are prohibited in the Dominican Republic, regardless of whether the minor gives consent. 

MLB is also conducting its own investigation.

The Rays signed Franco to an 11-year, $182 million contract in November 2021. The team put him back on the 40-man roster last month since administrative leave is only applicable during the regular season. He will continue to be paid and accrue service time while he is away from the team.

Contributing: The Associated Press