A Dominican Republic appeals court ordered a new trial for Wander Franco, less than six months after the Tampa Bay Rays shortstop received a two-year suspended prison sentence for sexual abuse of a minor, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.

Franco, 24, and ‍the mother of the victim were sentenced in June, nearly two years after investigators opened the case into his illegal relationship with a then-14-year-old girl.

The investigation unveiled what prosecutors said were two payments to the mother of the victim from Franco totaling more than $100,000 to allegedly allow the relationship to continue for nearly two months starting in 2022.

Prosecutors pushed for a sentence of five years for the 2023 All-Star, who has ‌been on administrative leave from the Rays since the allegations surfac

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