Dominican Court Revokes Franco Pardon

An appeals court in the Dominican Republic revoked the judicial pardon granted to Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco on Thursday. The decision upholds Franco's conviction for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, leaving him with a suspended three-year prison sentence. The court ruled that the original pardon relied on an incorrect reading of legal provisions meant for exceptional circumstances. Prosecutors successfully argued that those conditions did not apply to Franco's case.

Franco is not required to serve time in custody if he maintains a fixed residence and remains under judicial supervision. The court cited his age and the goal of social reintegration when imposing these conditional terms. If he fails to comply with any of the conditions, he will be required to serve the full three-year sentence. Neither Franco nor his legal counsel made statements to the press upon leaving the courthouse.

Franco was arrested in January 2024 after allegations emerged that he had a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Prosecutors also accused him of transferring thousands of dollars to the girl's mother to secure her consent for the relationship. Franco was 22 at the time of the alleged relationship and is now 25. He was originally convicted in June 2025. Six months later, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, ending the pay he had received while on administrative leave.

The Rays have not played Franco in the majors since the conviction. The team was eliminated from the World Series last night by the Milwaukee Brewers. Franco signed an 11-year contract worth $182 million in November 2021, but his career was halted in August 2023 when Dominican authorities announced they were investigating him.

Following the hearing, prosecutors stated that they had substantiated their charges across multiple trials. The court upheld a 10-year prison sentence for the minor's mother, who was found guilty of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering. The court also ordered the forfeiture of approximately $34,000 found in her possession. Prosecutors identified these funds as payment from Franco in exchange for her consent.

Franco retains the right to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Dominican Republic. Major League Baseball declined to comment on the ruling. The next scheduled step is the potential filing of an appeal by Franco's legal team.