Hall of Fame third baseman Adrián Beltré believes Wander Franco should get another opportunity to play Major League Baseball, despite the serious legal issues that have sidelined the former top prospect since 2023.
"It's a sensitive situation, but I think, I believe that everybody has a second chance," Beltré told TMZ Sports at Los Angeles International Airport.
Franco, 25, was recently found criminally responsible by a Dominican court for the sexual and psychological abuse of a 14-year-old girl. However, the court also deemed him a victim of extortion by the minor's mother, who was accused of trafficking her own child. Franco avoided prison time, potentially clearing a path to return to baseball for the first time since August 2023.
But a major hurdle remains: Major League Baseball has been conducting its own investigation into Franco's conduct for years and has yet to announce a decision. The league has a history of imposing lengthy suspensions for off-field misconduct, as seen in the Trevor Bauer case, who was initially banned for 324 games.
"[MLB is] really strict about these things," Beltré said. "It's just a sensitive situation. I don't really know enough about it."
Franco was once the top prospect in all of baseball and is still only 25. If MLB clears him, a team could sign him. Beltré is not alone in his support; fellow Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez also expressed hope that Franco would get another chance to play.
The Dominican star has not appeared in a major league game since August 2023, when the Rays placed him on administrative leave amid the investigation. Whether he will ever return now rests largely in MLB's hands.