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Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was positioned on administrative depart by Main League Baseball on Tuesday amid a number of investigations into alleged relationships he had with underage ladies in his native Dominican Republic.

Franco, 22, who missed the previous week after the Rays positioned him on the restricted listing, is being investigated by Dominican police, in addition to MLB’s division of investigations. Whereas no expenses have been filed in opposition to Franco, a prosecutor final week mentioned a division specializing in minors and gender violence is directing the police investigation.

The designation of administrative depart is a major however anticipated step by the league. Administrative depart removes a participant from a staff’s roster throughout an ongoing investigation into a possible violation of the game’s home violence coverage and could be prolonged indefinitely with the approval of the MLB Gamers Affiliation.

“The executive depart, efficient instantly, will not be disciplinary below the Joint Home Violence, Sexual Assault and Baby Abuse Coverage. We are going to remark additional on the acceptable time,” MLB mentioned in a press release Tuesday.

Ought to Franco not problem the depart, which is his proper through the first seven days, the league might ask the MLBPA to consent to a seven-day extension of the preliminary designation. Following the primary 14 days on administration depart, the MLBPA and MLB should come to an settlement on any additional extension.

MLB began its investigation into Franco inside hours of social media messages Aug. 13 that alluded to Franco’s relationship with a lady below the age of consent, which is eighteen within the Dominican Republic. A prosecutor within the province of Peravia, the place Franco’s hometown of Bani is the capital, informed The Related Press final week that an investigation with “a minor concerned” is in its early levels and will probably be led by Olga Dina Llaverias, a prosecutor who focuses on little one abuse instances. Diario Libre, a Dominican newspaper, had reported {that a} 17-year-old lady filed a grievance with the lawyer basic in opposition to Franco in July.

The social media storm on Aug. 13 prompted the Rays to maintain Franco from becoming a member of the staff in San Francisco, the place it was scheduled to play the following day. Tampa Bay and Franco agreed for him to spend the following week on the restricted listing, however with a house collection beginning Tuesday in opposition to Colorado, using administrative depart reasonably than an extension of his restricted-list keep was anticipated.

If Franco have been to problem administrative depart — throughout which he will probably be paid and accrue service time — the case would go to a impartial arbitrator, who would determine whether or not there’s “credible info” to help the allegations in opposition to him or if Franco rejoining the Rays would “trigger vital disruption” to the staff.

The MLBPA and Franco’s lawyer, Jay Reisinger, declined remark.

Franco, who’s within the second 12 months of an 11-year, $182 million contract, was within the midst of a breakout season, batting .281/.344/.475 with 17 house runs and 30 stolen bases, and he made his first All-Star Recreation look.