MLB, Rays looking into social-media posts including Wander Franco

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Major League Baseball is looking into social media posts including Rays shortstop Wander Franco, according to the Tampa Bay company.

Franco did not play in Sunday’s 9-2 loss to Cleveland.

“During today’s videogame, we were made conscious of the social media posts that are distributing concerning Wander Franco,” the Rays stated in a declaration. “We take the circumstance seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it performs its due diligence.”

Tampa Bay did not information the nature of the social media posts.

Osleivis Basabe began at shortstop on Sunday in the 22-year-old’s significant league launching. Basabe, who went 1 for 3 with a double, foundout he was being brought up throughout his videogame Saturday night with Triple-A Durham.

Franco began Sunday’s videogame in the Rays’ dugout, then left it in the 5th inning.

After the videogame, Rays supervisor Kevin Cash was asked whether there was any concern with Franco not playing other than a routine day off. Cash responded: “No.”

“I’m mindful of the speculation, and I’m not going to remark any evenmore on that,” Cash stated. “The day off was duetothefactthat (it was) a day off.”

ESPN reports Franco did not travel with the Rays for the next series in San Francisco.

Franco was benched for 2 videogames in late June by the Rays for how he has reacted to aggravating scenarios and not being the finest colleague at times.

Tampa Bay signed the 22-year-old to an 11-year, $182 million agreement in November 2021.

Franco, an AL All-Star this season, is striking .281 with 17 homers, 58 RBIs. He is 30 for 40 in stolen-base efforts in 112 videogames.

Reporting by the Associated Press.