Wander Franco, a victim of a MLB system that exploits impoverished youth, then abandons them

By Brian Patrick Moore

June 10, 2026

Wander Franco is a victim of a system that exploits impoverished youth. His lack of formal education, profound youth, and the stark cultural divide between his native Dominican Republic and the United States set the stage for his current dilemma.

Recruited at age 12, he left school in the sixth grade to sign a life-changing contract. Neither Major League Baseball nor the Tampa Bay Rays provided him with the necessary legal or cultural education before bringing him to the U.S. in 2021.]

Culturally, the Dominican Republic and several other nations have different social norms regarding adolescent relationships compared to the strict, zero-tolerance policies of the United States.

Furthermore, the handling of Franco's case reveals troubling institutional and media dynamics. Major League Baseball and certain media outlets have historically been complicit in aggressively recruiting impoverished Latin American prospects while ignoring systemic issues.

Additionally, the media’s approach to Franco—including columnists like John Romano and Marc Topkin—have lacked the compassion and culturally sensitive context typically afforded to crime victims and foreign nationals.

Ultimately, while Franco’s actions have civil consequences, it is my hope that Major League Baseball and the U.S. State Department will demonstrate human empathy. In the spirit of Christian forgiveness, we must recognize that his extreme immaturity, lack of education, and systemic neglect diminished his culpability. I hope that his visa is not rigidly denied, allowing him a chance at redemption.