Wander Franco has been found criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor in the Dominican Republic, but he will not face any prison time.
On Monday (May 25), Judge José Antonio Núñez determined that “logical and legal reasoning” led to the decision to grant the former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop a judicial pardon, according to The Associated Press.
"It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and at the same time exempt him from punishment," Núñez said. "The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one."
Franco received a two-year suspended prison sentence in June 2025 after he was found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl. He was 21 at the time when they were involved in a four-month relationship, which was consented to by the teen's mother, Martha Vanessa Chevalier Almonte, in exchange for about $17,000.
Almonte was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter.
USA TODAY reported that Franco was also convicted of moral turpitude, and will not be able to obtain a visa for the United States.
Franco is currently on the MLB's restricted list, which prevents him from receiving his salary as he remains on indefinite suspension. Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million with the Rays in November 2021.
In response to the ruling, MLB released a statement (via ESPN), which read: "We are aware of today's verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time."
While speaking with reporters outside the courtroom, Franco expressed optimism about a return to the MLB, saying that he will "soon be back."
Franco's attorney Teodosio Jáquez shared that a pathway back to the MLB won't start until after receiving the full sentence.
"When we have the full sentence in hand, we will give you more details," Jáquez said. "He was exempted from punishment, and we think that's fine, but we need to have the sentence in hand."
Wander Franco's official sentencing is scheduled for June 16.
