Wander Franco, once called a major league baseball prodigy shortstop, has been sentenced to five years in prison in his home country on charges of sexual exploitation of a minor.

The American sports network ESPN reported on the 24th (Korea time) that "The Dominican Republic prosecution has sought a five-year sentence for Wander Franco. Franco is facing sexual charges involving a 14-year-old minor and is currently suspended from playing."

According to the prosecutor in Franco's home country of the Dominican Republic, Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor for four months and was caught transferring a large sum of money to the minor's mother for this relationship.

During the process of searching the home of the victim's mother, the prosecution discovered $68,500 (about 93 million won) and $35,000 (about 47 million won), which are believed to have been delivered by Franco.

The prosecution has sought five years in prison for Franco and 10 years for the minor's mother, who is accused of being involved in child prostitution.

Born in 2001, Franco made his major league debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, quickly rising to superstardom at a young age. Dubbed a prodigious infielder, he signed a massive long-term contract worth $182 million (about 248.4 billion won) with Tampa Bay for 11 years before the 2022 season.

Franco's 2023 season statistics show a batting average of .281 with 17 home runs and 58 RBIs over 112 games, and a career total of 265 games with a batting average of .282, 292 hits, 30 home runs, and 130 RBIs across three big league seasons.

In August 2023, an exposé surfaced on social media alleging that Franco had an inappropriate relationship with a minor, putting him under suspicion. In response, the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Justice and Major League Baseball's (MLB) office launched simultaneous investigations, and the Tampa Bay organization immediately placed Franco on the restricted list. MLB also imposed an administrative leave punishment on Franco in accordance with the league's labor agreement.

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