Wander

[Edgy MD]

A hard-fought series between the Guards and the Rays ended on Sunday without Tampa Bay star Wander Franco in the lineup, despite (a) Franco being a healthy guy who plays every game, (b) Franco having ended game one with a no-doubt walkoff homerun, and (c) the afternoon's promotion being Wander Franco Snap-Back Hat Day.

It was puzzling, but as the day progressed it seemed that a story was breaking that Franco was being investigated for an inappropriate relationship with a minor (reportedly 14), that supposedly (a) her mother approved of, and (b) was only coming to light because the mother started talking after Franco wouldn't sweeten the deal with cash and automotive gifts. Franco reportedly had been told by the girl and others that she was 18.

The weird part is that I'm using "supposedly" and "reportedly" because the story first broke on social media, and I haven't included a source yet, because who knows where the genesis is on such narratives? But I share, because, well, the traditional media are sure running with it now. (When I Google "Wander Franco," the field quickly autofills with "Wander Franco 14.")

Obviously, the reports are something less than established facts, though the reports are consistent. If the facts are as represented, there's plenty of disgust to go around. We've got the millionth guy who should know that you can't just take someone's word for it on a teenager's age, and we've got a gold-digging mother who pimped out an underage daughter. Supposedly.

Real reporting, I'm sure, will emerge as the day progresses, and repercussions (baseball and more broadly) will swiftly follow.

Ugly irony emerges as folks observe that "Wander Franco Snap-Back Hat Day" was a promotion that included a giveaway only available to "fans 14 and under."

[metirish]

Yeah it's an ugly story , Franco should know better, the mom should know better , nothing good can come of this, and whether the mom approved obviously means nothing when the girl is freaking 14.

[dgwphotography]

A really ugly story...

[ashie62]

I saw the video. She doesn't "look" 18

Franco and the Rays "mutually agreed" to his being put on the restricted list

Moron

[Edgy MD]

A really ugly story...

I was gonna guess this was next, but I feel kind of ugly prognosticating on such a matter.

[dgwphotography]

A really ugly story...

I was gonna guess this was next, but I feel kind of ugly prognosticating on such a matter.

In this day and age, I try not to form an opinion about any news story for at least 48 hours. Far too many times, news comes out that is later changed, because it’s now more important to be first rather than right.

[Edgy MD]

Good policy.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Not condoning anything, but Franco's only 22 himself, and barely. These are man-childs, not wisened sages.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Not condoning anything, but Franco's only 22 himself, and barely. These are man-childs, not wisened sages.

22 year olds tend to make dumb decisions. And this 22 year old has had everything go his way for years - his entire adult life and then some - and he signed a $182M contract. And at 22, his sexual urges are probably out of control. Teenagers have been having sex ever since they existed. Just sayin', not defending anything.

[ashie62]

Hoping for the best here

[Lefty Specialist]

There seems to be some ambiguity here. If she's 14, she doesn't look it. And she's drinking and driving (together) and has a baby already. That's a lot of living for only 14.

Not defending pedophiles, but there's a non-zero chance this is an extortion since her mom seems to be the source of the story. I would imagine right now that there is some furious investigating going on by MLB.

[nymr83]

Yeah it's an ugly story , Franco should know better, the mom should know better , nothing good can come of this, and whether the mom approved obviously means nothing when the girl is freaking 14.

If the story as Edgy told it above is true then Franco is a moron who should have known better. The mother is a child abusing criminal.

[Edgy MD]

And to be clear, I have no idea, and was just summin' up accounts.

[Fman99]

Not all of those who Wander are child molesters. Just this guy

[Bob Alpacadaca]

There is no excuse for this behavior. He also got benched earlier in the year for being a bad teammate.

[batmagadanleadoff]

I don't know any of the actual facts but what if he sincerely and in good faith believed that she was over the age limit of consent? I think that would excuse him, at least morally, though not legally if she was a minor. He's 22, not 52.

[nymr83]

Not enough facts out there yet for sure.

[metirish]

[Benjamin Grimm]

"more minors involved"

Yikes.

[ashie62]

Sports Illustrated is reporting that "baseball insider" Hector Gomez is saying that Wander Franco may have played his last MLB game, ever

[whippoorwill]

Not condoning anything, but Franco's only 22 himself, and barely. These are man-childs, not wisened sages.

Agreed.

That age difference dissolves in ten years.

That being said, I think Mom deserves the biggest penalty here.

[whippoorwill]

There seems to be some ambiguity here. If she's 14, she doesn't look it. And she's drinking and driving (together) and has a baby already. That's a lot of living for only 14.

Not defending pedophiles, but there's a non-zero chance this is an extortion since her mom seems to be the source of the story. I would imagine right now that there is some furious investigating going on by MLB.

Yes she doesn’t look like a typical 14 year old schoolgirl

Edit: he’s guilty of bad taste that’s for sure lolol

[Centerfield]

Meanwhile, some assholes continue to worship Pete Rose, who was in his mid 30's and married when he was into 14 year olds

[Benjamin Grimm]

Yes she doesn’t look like a typical 14 year old schoolgirl

Wait... her picture has been released to the public? That's surprising, isn't it?

[dgwphotography]

From what I understand, the original girl is now 18, and their relationship started when she was 14 and he was 17, and what has transpired in between then and now is murky at best.

If there are now other minors involved, which is what seems to be alleged, then this is a total shitstorm.