MLB investigating Rays shortstop Wander Franco as team puts him on restricted list

Major League Baseball has officially launched an investigation into social media posts involving Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, and he has been placed on the restricted list, according to a statement from the team on Monday. Franco will miss the duration of the Rays' West Coast road trip.

Players are not paid while they're on the restricted list.

On Monday, the Dominican Republic attorney general's office said in a statement that Franco, 22, was under investigation for an alleged relationship with a minor. The statement from authorities came a day after social media posts went viral alleging that Franco had engaged in such a relationship.

Franco did not play in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Guardians and began the game in the Rays' dugout, then left it in the fifth inning, fueling further speculation on social media.

After Sunday's game, the Rays released a statement confirming that MLB was looking into the matter: "We were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco. We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence."

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Manager Kevin Cash fielded questions about the 22-year-old's absence from the lineup.

“I’m aware of the speculation, and I’m not going to comment any further on that,” Cash said. “The day off was because (it was) a day off.”

Franco was an All-Star for the first time this season and is batting .281 with an .819 OPS, 17 home runs and 30 steals in 112 games for Tampa Bay.

Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million extension with the Rays in 2021 after just 70 games in the majors, the biggest contract in franchise history.

The shortstop was benched in June after "multiple times" that he "handled his frustrations" not in "the way we ask our players to uphold being the best teammate," according to Cash.

Contributing: Associated Press