Wander Franco granted judicial pardon in retrial. Ex-MLB player will avoid prison

Former Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was granted a judicial pardon on Monday by a Dominican Republic judge in a retrial of his sexual abuse case. The judge ruled that although Franco sexually abused a 14-year-old girl in 2023, he was also a victim of extortion and blackmail by the minor's mother, who received thousands of dollars from him. As a result, Franco will avoid prison time, though he remains on MLB's restricted list.