What’s worse than Ethics Dunce? What Wander Franco, the Tampa Bay Rays sensational young shortstop, has done is so flagrantly destructive to himself and so ruinous to his team and family…and so obviously wrong and avoidable that “dunce” is an understatement.
If you don’t follow baseball, I need to tell you bit about Franco. At 22 years old, he is already in his third major league season. He plays shortstop, the most important and difficult defensive position besides pitcher and catcher, and his team, the Tampa Bay Rays, are a perennial powerhouse in the American League. He is handsome and built like a Greek statue: so clearly does everything about Franco scream “Superstar!” that the Rays took the almost unprecedented step of signing him to an eleven year contract before this season, before he has won a single batting title, Gold Glove or MVP award. He has already made just under $4 million dollars; the rest of his contract will pay him an estimated $176 million more, whereupon he will be eligible for another long-term contract as a free agent conservatively worth more than twice as much.
He has all of that before him, and that’s just the money. He is looking at being a community and national celebrity, a product spokesperson and endorser, a role model for the young, and a legend in his sport. And what did he do?
The Rays made the following announcement today:
“The Tampa Bay Rays and Wander Franco have mutually agreed that he will go on the Restricted List and take leave from the Club for the duration of the current road trip. We support any steps taken by the league to better understand the situation. Out of respect for all parties involved, we have no further comments at this time.”
It has been discovered through various social media messages that Franco has been engaged in an “inappropriate relationship” with an underage girl. MLB has opened an official investigation into the matter; of course, MLB is “investigating” before the hammer falls, but Franco would not be removed from his team’s active roster if it was all just one big misunderstanding. The Ray are already in a freefall after a hot start that had everyone assuming that they would be in the World Series. Losing their star shortstop at this critical time is a disaster, but the evidence looks very bad. A major league baseball player messing around with a child, though those lawn signs shrug it off as just “Love is Love,” is the sign of a predator and pervert.
Of all the major professional team sports, baseball is by far the least forgiving of personal conduct that mars the sport’s image and prestige. Bill James correctly described baseball players as paid heroes, and that’s exactly what they are, though too many players fail to comprehend it. Players who have been found to have engaged in domestic abuse, for example, seldom return to their previous status in the game. Other serious crimes—and baseball sees them far, far less frequently in its paid heroes than football and basketball—typically end a player’s career. Maybe Franco’s team of lawyers and PR specialists can find some mitigating circumstances, and because he is so young, perhaps a brilliantly authored apology and plan of redemption will restore some of his lost luster. But no team will ever fully trust him again. His flirtation with a teen has not only cost him millions, it has harmed his team, its city, and the game, as well as abusing the young woman. That’s the “Ethics” part.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, he left his tracks on social media. What a cretin. That’s the “Dunce” part.
But it still doesn’t begin to do Wander Franco justice.
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Ethics Alarms 
I saw one reference to an actual age of his “girlfriend”, but I consider it hearsay without some official statement. Are “underage” laws different in various states regarding age or is there a federal standard? I did a quick search on what is considered underage (which will probably have the FBI knocking on my door), but couldn’t find a solid answer.
Franco is an immense talent with all kinds of potential and upside. This kind of thing would be awful…although, as Chris Marschner has so wisely written, if children can make decisions about their sexual and gender identity before they’re 10, why couldn’t Wander date a girl that, regardless of her age, has made decisions about her sexuality? This is the horrific slippery slope down which we’re starting to slide.
I really hope this turns out to be nothing, but I’m not optimistic.
Franco’s difficulty may not be with authorities in the U.S. because the minor is reportedly a resident of the Dominican Republic. From The Athletic sports website: “Per the Associated Press, the media office of the Dominican Republic attorney general’s office replied to questions about the allegations in a statement: ‘There are investigations regarding that matter.’ “
I don’t think it’s just a legal problem for him. Recall the Cy Young Award winner in his prime who van only find employment in the Far East, even though a starter of his ability might mean a championship for about, oh, four teams? Five? And the Black Sox were all found not guilty—didn’t save them.
In get the issue – underage is underage. But, do we know the girl’s age? He is 22; if she is 17, then I might not be as offended as if she were 13 or 14. It would also depend on how long this has been going on. I am not justifying statutory rape v y any means but my outrage is going to depend on a bunch of factors.
jvb
I checked. She’s 14. He is a jerk and, if true, guilty of statutory rape. He is toast, assuming it is true.
jvb
Sounds like we are dealing with the Dominican Republic.
Even so, 14 is probably too young.
15 or 16 may be a closer call.
-Jut
Forget his career and MLB, hand him over to the police.
Dunce versus cretin? Not your most nuanced take on things Señor Marshall.
I dunno , Khyber, this story doesn’t need much nuance. He is in a an inappropriate relationship with someone alleged to be14 years old. Where should nuance play its hand? First base? Center field? Home plate?
jvb
Point well taken 2013: no excuses for what is, if true, no matter how much fun they, the perp and his moll, are having, pedo behavior. (Meanwhile, Franco is somewhat insouciant . .) Hang ‘im from the highest tree . . . but sheesh, let the DR investigation unfold first. Jack the M though lamenting the player’s lack of intelligence for getting caught . . is a little disingenuous don’t you think? Ethics don’t stop at the je t’accuse point, they continue on judicially.
Not for getting caught…for getting caught by using Twitter. Heck, the guy’s 22, he’s supposed to be tech savvy. These crooks and criminals that post their exploits on social media are ridiculous, but when you’re a celebrity…come on, give me a descriptor!
Point taken. Just trying to find the right word…
Well, Ethics Dunce is an established category.
Ethics Cretin might be fine for some francophiles, but seems, otherwise, indistinguishable from a dunce.
-Jut
The next step up is “Ethics Villain” and “Fick.” Still feel like something’s missing….
If only he played for the White Sox or Red Sox, so you could borrow “worsted-stocking knave” from King Lear (Act II, Scene 2).
“Still feel like something’s missing….”
Ethics Douche…?
Bingo!!!
An overview of the process from The Athletic sports website. (I quoted an excerpt in an earlier reply to a comment by Joel Mundt.) https://theathletic.com/4776043/2023/08/14/wander-franco-tampa-bays-rays-investigation/?source=dailyemail&campaign=601983
So many questions, from the player to the parents.
What was going on and who knew?
Just get traded to a MA or NH team, get married?
Didn’t I read he’s married to his wife while having an affair with an underage girl.
Fun question: What would MLB have done, or not done, had it been a relationship with an underage BOY?
No difference, I suspect.