Major League Baseball is currently investigating social media posts involving Wander Franco, the shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite not playing in Sunday’s game against Cleveland, the Rays expressed their seriousness about the situation and confirmed their collaboration with MLB during their investigation.
Although the nature of the social media posts has not been fully disclosed by Tampa Bay, sources suggest that they alleged Franco’s involvement in an inappropriate relationship with a minor. Consequently, Osleivis Basabe made his major league debut as the starting shortstop on Sunday, taking Franco’s place. Basabe performed well during the game, going 1 for 3 with a double. Interestingly, he was notified of his promotion while playing for the Triple-A Durham the night before.
During Sunday’s game, Wander Franco initially sat in the Rays’ dugout but left it in the fifth inning. Prior to the game, the team had organized a promotion offering Wander Franco Snapback Hats to fans aged 14 and under. When questioned about Franco’s absence from the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash dismissed any concerns, stating that it was simply a regular day off for him.
It’s worth noting that Franco has faced disciplinary action from the Rays in the past. In late June, he was benched for two games due to his handling of frustrating situations and instances where he had not been the best teammate. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay showed their faith in the talented 22-year-old by signing him to an $182 million, 11-year contract in November 2021, including a team option for 2033 that could potentially be worth $223 million.
Despite the ongoing speculation on social media, Franco’s achievements this season cannot be ignored. As an AL All-Star, he has maintained an impressive batting average of .281 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs. Additionally, he has successfully stolen 30 bases out of 40 attempts in the 112 games he has played so far.
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