Dominican Shortstop Wander Franco Released From Prison Amid Allegations Of Relationship With Minor

Dominican baseball shortstop Wander Franco has been released from prison amid an ongoing investigation into his alleged relationship with a 14-year-old girl.

The 22-year-old shortstop was granted conditional release after paying 2 million Dominican pesos ($34,000) as a type of deposit. Despite his release Monday, he has to appear before authorities every month as part of the investigation, AP News reported.

Franco was accused of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The prosecutors said Franco paid thousands of dollars and gifted a car to the teenage girl's mother to get her consent.

The teen's 35-year-old mother also faces charges and is being held under house arrest. The names of the mother and the teen were disclosed in order to maintain privacy.

Franco was arrested on New Year's Day in the Dominican Republic after being interviewed by prosecutors.

The baseball player was accompanied by two lawyers during the questioning session, which he delayed multiple times in the past. An official in the Puerto Plata province prosecutor's office said the interview lasted around three hours. Authorities have not released much details about the case as it involves a minor.

Franco came under fire in August last year after he posted a series of photos and videos on social media, suggesting his relationship with a minor girl. The posts are not available on his social media now.

Franco has been sidelined from his team since Aug. 14. He was moved to administrative leave on Aug. 22.

Franco signed a 11-year contract with Tampa Bay Rays in 2021. The contract was worth $182 million.

Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg welcomed this deal at the time and said it was "evidence of the mutual trust between Wander and our organization."