Did we miss signs Wander Franco’s life had the potential to unravel?

Even on an island where shortstops are a natural resource, the 10-year-old stood out. He was more of a baseball player than a kid, a fact he demonstrated when he dropped out of school at age 12 to attend an elite baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

At 15, he was already in the conversation as the world's top prospect and in the rankings of Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com practically made it official a few years later.

Yes, when it comes to ballparks, few have blossomed as early and as gracefully as Wander Samuel Franco.

It was everywhere else that he had difficulty growing up.

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He's free now, but far from in the clear. Alleged by Puerto Plata prosecutors having had sexual relations with a 14 year old girl when he was 21 and had just completed his second big league season with the Rays, a judge gave Franco his parole in exchange for, essentially, $34,000 bail on Friday. He is free to leave the country but must return each month to appear in court as law enforcement continues to investigate.

The following is not an excuse, or even an explanation, for his alleged transgressions. Rather, it is an exploration of signposts that might one day be re-examined as potential clues to a life that seems on the brink of self-destruction.

The Rays insisted they would not publicly discuss their star shortstop while legal proceedings were underway. But there have been enough clues and conversations over the past two years that, in retrospect, the current crisis seems less surprising.

It's a cliché to suggest that someone is born to do anything, but it's not far from the truth when it comes to Franco and baseball. His father and two older brothers played in the minor leagues in the United States. His two maternal uncles, Erick and Willy Aybar, both reached the major leagues. Wander had a bat in his hands as a kid and talked about becoming a Hall of Famer while he was still in Class A.

When he reached the majors at the age of 20 in the summer of 2021, everyone raved about Franco's uncommon maturity. His discipline at the plate. A baseball IQ that was off the charts and a heartbeat that seemed to slow down the game around him.

But these qualities only manifested themselves after the first pitch of the day. At other times there were signs that something was wrong. If his baseball skills were beyond his chronological age, then Franco's social skills were more like those of a teenager.

It was nothing dramatic; nothing immediately noticeable. But common courtesies seemed to elude him. Something as simple as wearing a hat and glove on the field for a teammate who just advanced to the final out of an inning. Arriving on the field in time for the national anthem before Sunday's games, when the Rays were supposed to line up alongside the Little Leagues. It wasn't that Franco was mean or rude, he just didn't seem to consider the needs of those around him.

There was also a propensity to make impulsive choices. Franco was a father at 17. He bought a Lamborghini, a Mercedes and a Rolls Royce SUV before he was 21. He traveled with high-end bling, which the world discovered when his car was broken into at a Jacksonville hotel during a minor league rehab assignment and jewelry worth $659,000 was stolen.

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He had an altercation with center Jose Siri near the end of spring training in 2023, then another with Randy Arozarena during the regular season. The longer he stayed in Tampa Bay, the more he seemed to isolate himself in the Rays clubhouse. He had spent nights home alone after leaving Tropicana Field, playing video games online for hours. Siri, a fellow Dominican six years his senior, was a rare friend.

Over time, psychiatrists were consulted. The team asked Franco's parents to step in on occasion, although they were noticeably absent around Tropicana Field.

The first public sign that there might have been trouble came earlier this summer when Rays manager Kevin Cash took the unusual step of send Franco home for two games. This was not a suspension per se, but rather sending an unruly child on time out. Cash spoke that day about the need for Franco to better control his emotions.

Ultimately, it was decided to invite one of his best Dominican friends, Tony Pena, to join Franco in Tampa Bay. A few years older, it was hoped Pena would be a stabilizing influence. And for a short period of time, Franco's mood off the field and his performance on the field seemed to improve. He hit eight home runs in 32 games in July and August.

And then an accusatory social media post appeared a late summer weekend.

Franco was not in the lineup this Sunday afternoon, but appeared in an Instagram Live post filmed in the Rays clubhouse earlier in the morning.

“They say that I am in public with a little girl, that I am running with a minor,” Franco said in Spanish. “They don’t know what they’re talking about. That's why I prefer to stand by myself and not get involved with anyone.

It was put on baseball restricted list the next day, then disappeared. The next time the world saw Franco was when he got out of a police car, handcuffed, Friday morning and was escorted to the courthouse. A few hours later, while he was on a bathroom break, reporters asked him about the case.

“Everything,” he said, “will be in the hands of God. »

John Romano can be contacted at jromano@tampabay.com. Follow @romano_tbtimes.

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