Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, a once highly-touted baseball prospect, has been formally charged with sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic. The allegations of his inappropriate relationship with a minor emerged last August, leading to MLB placing him on administrative leave with pay. This incident has effectively ended Franco's season, putting a halt to his successful career as an All-Star in 2023. The formal charges include rape and human trafficking, with potential prison sentences of up to 20 years. Prosecutors have also implicated the girl's mother in the case, alleging that Franco paid her thousands of dollars to consent to the abuse. The ongoing investigation has MLB closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the gravity of these serious allegations against the young athlete.