Wander Franco's trial starts Monday. Here is what you need to know.

TAMPA, Fla. — After a nearly six-month delay, Wander Franco’s trial on multiple charges is set to begin Monday in the Dominican Republic with his freedom and baseball future on the line, as well as a significant impact on the Rays franchise.

Franco faces charges of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation of a minor and human trafficking stemming from a relationship with a then-14-year-old girl that started in December 2022, when Franco was 21. If found guilty, Franco, now 24, faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. He has not played for the Rays since word of the relationship surfaced on social media in August 2023.

The trial, which is expected to last at least three to four months, originally was set for mid-December, but was delayed at the request of the prosecutors when only three of 30-some witnesses showed up at the courtroom in Puerto Plata.

Both sides now say they are set to go forward and are confident in their case.

“We are prepared to begin the case on (Monday) as scheduled. I say ‘begin’ because this case won’t be resolved in a single hearing. It will take four to five hearings due to the large amount of supposed evidence including documents, expert reports, witness testimony, and other types,” Franco’s lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez Encarnación, recently told the Tampa Bay Times.

“But I can tell you in advance that this collection of evidence presented by the Public Ministry is not directly linked to Wander Franco. In other words, there is no direct evidence against him that would prove his responsibility, only indirect evidence, mostly spread through social media.”

Prosecutors put out a statement Friday saying they are “ready” to start the trial and have “conclusive evidence” against Franco and the victim’s mother, who faces charges of sexual exploitation and money laundering.

Per the media release, the “accusation of the Public Ministry indicates” that Franco “kidnapped the victim for sexual purposes for several days ... then sent large sums of money” to the mother “to prevent her from reporting him,” and that the mother used the money “to acquire movable and immovable property.”

Here are a few more things to know:

How does the Dominican legal process work?

Slowly, with the case expected to take at least three to four months and potentially up to eight. There are no jury trials in the Dominican Republic. Franco’s trial will be heard by a three-judge panel, which will then decide his fate. Appeals can be made.

After a lengthy investigation, prosecutors filed charges against Franco in July. The evidence for those charges was then reviewed by a judge, who ruled in September that it merited proceeding to a trial. During that process, the father of the teenaged girl withdrew his complaint against Franco.

What about MLB discipline?

The league started an investigation once the allegations of the relationship first surfaced, but the bulk of MLB’s work starts once the legal process has concluded.

In part, that is because the league has no power to make witnesses cooperate, but can use whatever comes out in court.

Of note, MLB can issue discipline even if a player is not convicted of a crime.

What is Franco’s current status?

Legally, he has been on supervised release in the Dominican, required to make monthly check-ins with a judge but otherwise is free while awaiting his trial.

(He also faces charges from a November incident when he was arrested for illegal possession of a gun in his vehicle after an altercation in an apartment complex parking lot over the attention of a woman.)

Baseball-wise, Franco has not played for the Rays since Aug. 12, 2023, the day before social media posts surfaced about the relationship with the minor.

Shortly after then he was placed on administrative leave — a non-disciplinary measure under the league/union joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy — and he received a portion of his $2 million salary to start the 2024 season.

After charges were filed in July, Franco was shifted to MLB’s restricted list as a result of not being able to obtain a visa and report to work in the United States due to the charges, and he is not being paid his $8 million salary so far this season.

Franco posts occasional Instagram videos that show him taking batting practice on a youth league field near his home in Bani, D.R., and appears to be in shape.

Franco has not said much to the media during his several court appearance beyond that “everything is in God’s hands.” He did push back at the December trial delay when reporters asked if his major league career was over.

“I did not had a career,” he said in Spanish, “This is not over.”

Franco also has recently resumed, after what seemed like an extended absence, regular social media postings, including some with game photos of him in a Rays uniform.

He also documented recent visits to a senior center and an orphanage, where he said he delivered food and supplies.

Francisco Manuel Lazala, a Dominican criminal lawyer not involved in the case, told the Tampa Bay Times those posts generated mixed reactions in the DR.

“Some view these appearances as an effort to present a sense of normalcy or to rehabilitate his public image, while others believe they may be poorly timed or even counterproductive, considering the seriousness of the charges he faces,” Lazala said.

Other postings by Franco include cryptic messages and bible verses.

One of his most recent was from Genesis 50:20, which translates to: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

How has the situation impacted the Rays?

When he was sidelined, Franco was one of the top young players in the majors, having just played in the 2023 All-Star Game and compiled a .282 average, .795 OPS and 11.3 WAR rating (per baseball-reference.com) in parts of three major league seasons.

The Rays have had to make several roster moves to replace Franco on the field — starting with trading Luke Raley to get Jose Caballero to play shortstop at the start of 2024 — and have dealt with some public fallout from the incident.

But the biggest impact is yet to come, specifically the remaining $164 million balance (after this season) on the $182 million, 11-year contract they signed him to in November 2021.

A guilty verdict that lands Franco in jail for the remaining contract years, or even that prevents him from getting a visa (by being convicted of a crime or moral turpitude), would get the Rays off the hook. As would a suspension, or placement on the ineligible list, by Major League Baseball. The gun charge also could be a factor in the discipline.

But if Franco is acquitted, or charges unexpectedly are dropped, and there is no long-term suspension, the Rays could be obligated to pay the remaining money.

And then face a potential moral dilemma on whether to bring Franco back to the team, seek to trade him (at a likely highly-discounted return) or try to work out a settlement with Franco and the players union (which typically doesn’t favor guaranteed money not being paid) to pay part of the remaining contract.

When will this all be resolved?

The length of the trial obviously will drive that. If it goes multiple months as expected, with the potential for an appeal, and time for MLB to talk with witnesses to complete its investigation, it’s easy to see this carrying into the offseason.

Even if there was a quick resolution with charges dropped or Franco acquitted, he wouldn’t necessarily return to the majors this season.

He would need to apply for and be granted a visa, and to get back into game shape. The Rays can assign him to their spring complex for a 30-day conditioning stint, and then could either put him on a 20-day rehab assignment and/or option him to a minor league team.

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Staff writer Juan Carlos Chavez contributed to this report.