Wander Franco, a Dominican professional baseball shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, married his longtime girlfriend, Rachelly Paulino, and they have two children.
He was once an up-and-coming star in Major League Baseball, but his career came to a halt. He was charged with serious crimes in the Dominican Republic that involved a minor.
Franco is no longer playing, and his personal life is under scrutiny due to the nature of the allegations.
Wander Franco Girlfriend Turned Wife
Wander Franco’s girlfriend-turned-wife is Rachelly Paulino. She’s 23 years old as of 2025, and they knew each other as kids. The married couple has two sons.
They met when they were young in the Dominican Republic. What started as a friendship turned into love over time. They built a relationship that lasted for years before getting married.
Their first son is Wander Samuel Franco Jr., born in 2018. They had a second son in 2022.
Furthermore, Baseball is in Franco’s blood. His father, Wander Franco Sr., played minor league baseball. His mother, Nancy Aybar, has two brothers who played in MLB – Erick Aybar and Willy Aybar.
Wander Franco Charged with Sexual Abuse
The Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop from the Dominican Republic has been dealing with a substantial legal muddle. The whole thing entails allegations about him and a 14-year-old girl. This has completely messed up his personal life and baseball career.
Franco was accused of being in a relationship with a 14-year-old girl for four months. Netizens believed he gave around $17,000 to the girl’s mother. He did this so she would be okay with the relationship happening.
Because of these claims, Franco now faces severe criminal charges in the Dominican Republic. He’s facing charges for sexual abuse of a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation, and human trafficking.
The story broke in August 2023, right when Franco was having a fantastic season. MLB put him on leave right away. Social media went wild with rumors as investigators began to look into everything.
They arrested Franco in January 2024. Then he got in more trouble in November 2024 when police arrested him for having an illegal gun.
The Trial and Sentencing
Franco’s trial happened behind closed doors in the Dominican Republic. The prosecutors showed audio and video evidence to the court. They also brought 31 witnesses to tell their stories.
Franco’s lawyers stated that the audio and video data had been altered and were not genuine.
On June 13, 2025, the court made their decision. Franco was found penitent of sexual abuse of a minor. He was not found guilty of human trafficking and exploitation charges.
The judge gave him a two-year suspended prison sentence. This means he will not go to jail if he follows specific rules the judge sets for him. He cannot have any contact with minors for sexual reasons.
The girl’s mother was found guilty too and got ten years in prison. Franco’s lawyers said they plan to appeal the decision.
Impact on Franco’s Career and Future
Franco has not played any games for the Rays since his suspension in 2023. In July 2024, MLB placed him on its restricted list because he failed to notify the team when required.
This stopped his salary and his service time from continuing. The league is still doing its investigation using the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, and Child Abuse Policy.
The conviction creates significant problems for Franco regarding immigration. Legal experts say his chances of obtaining a U.S. work visa are now very low. This puts his return to Major League Baseball in danger.
The Tampa Bay Rays and MLB both issued statements stating that they respect the legal process. They noted that they are working with the authorities on this matter. Neither organization would comment further about the situation.
