• Wander Franco has been found guilty of sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl.
• He received a suspended sentence of two years instead of immediate imprisonment.
• Franco transferred thousands of dollars to the girl's mother to consent to the relationship.
• The ruling follows extensive evidence presented during the trial.
• Franco plans to appeal the decision made by the Dominican court.

Wander Franco, the 24-year-old former shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, was convicted of sexually abusing a minor and handed a two-year suspended sentence by a Dominican court on Thursday. Prosecutors accused him of maintaining a relationship with a 14-year-old girl, influenced by transactions where he transferred thousands of dollars to the girl’s mother to facilitate the illegal relationship. The court described the minor as having been manipulated, according to Reuters, HuffPost, and CBS News.

The presiding judge, Jakayra Veras García, emphasized during her statement that Franco should reconsider his choices regarding minors. In her remarks, she advised, “Do not approach minors for sexual purposes. If you don’t like people very close to your age, you have to wait your time.” Despite facing multiple charges, including sexual and commercial exploitation and human trafficking, Franco was found not guilty on those counts, according to Reuters, HuffPost, and CBS News.

Franco's attorney announced plans to appeal the ruling, asserting that justice was not served—a sentiment echoed by prosecutor Luis Martínez regarding the rulings in court. The court's decision comes at a time when Franco's professional baseball career, previously soaring after a 11-year, $182 million contract signed with the Rays, has been significantly impacted since he was placed on administrative leave in August 2023 due to the ongoing investigation, as reported by Reuters, HuffPost, and CBS News.

In addition to his legal troubles, Franco faced a separate incident involving an arrest for carrying an unregistered firearm, further complicating his situation. Major League Baseball (MLB) acknowledged the verdict, stating that they are concluding their investigation relevant to Franco’s case which aligns with their domestic violence and abuse policies, according to Reuters, HuffPost, and CBS News.