ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — Rays fans geared up for a home game against the New York Yankees one day after an indictment was filed against the former superstar shortstop Wander Franco.
The public prosecutor’s office charged Franco with commercial sexual exploitation of a minor. They said their investigation, which started last year, is complete.
Brian Trela was having a meal at the Ferg’s Sports Bar before the game. He shared his high hopes for the 23-year-old.
“He changed the team, in a way. I mean, he’s, you know, by far their best player,” Trela said.
Fans shared how they remembered seeing Franco’s flags on light poles in downtown St. Pete come down. Trela said athletes and celebrities can get caught in situations like this, and thinks there could be a chance Franco plays again.
“If he’s guilty, no. If he’s not guilty, yeah, absolutely,” Trela said.
Defense attorney and former prosecutor Bryant Camareno said he doesn’t think it’s likely, especially because he said Franco was in the country on a visa to play baseball. Franco has been removed from the MLB’s administrative list to the restricted list, and won’t be getting paid by the Rays.
“His career is over. And apparently, it’s been over even though he was on some sort of leave,” Camareno said. “If he’s convicted, not only is he facing prison, but his chances of ever coming back to this country to play are gone.”
A newspaper in the Dominican Republic said Franco’s attorney argues the 14-year-old Franco is accused of having a sexual relationship with, never said Franco’s name when she was interviewed in front of a judge.
Camareno said the attorney is doing his job, but said they’ll need more evidence because not all victims say the names of the people who assaulted them.
“I think that the fact that he may have not been mentioned in her interview could help him. But if there’s evidence suggesting that he’s making money, payments to the mother, and Instagram messages to a young girl and a romantic nature than her, the fact that she may not have mentioned him, will help, but it’s not going to help a lot,” Camareno said.
Rays Fan Nico Tedesco said he can’t help but think of how Franco was their franchise player.
“To have a young guy come into the program and be absolutely dominating at what he did was absolutely amazing,” Tedesco said. “I hope he can come back from it. And I hope he learned his lesson because that would just be such a waste of talent.”
While he shook his head, Tedesco said if Franco is found guilty, he doesn’t think he’ll play major league baseball ever again.
