Wander Franco Set to Play After Pardon | Huntsville News

Wander Franco’s baseball comeback is heating up — he’s set to play for the Dominican Republic in next week’s Central American and Caribbean Games — but his path back is clouded by a damning past. Found guilty of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor in May, Franco received a surprising pardon from a Dominican judge, who claimed he was being blackmailed. The scandal erupted last August after social media posts surfaced, leading to his suspension and, later, arrest in January over allegations of a relationship with a 14-year-old and sending money to her mother. Still on MLB’s restricted list, Franco’s $182 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays doesn’t pay him a dime — and MLB’s investigation could bring even more fallout for the once-celebrated star. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/65d21987689d188d