Vander Franco did not appear at his appointment before prosecutors

Santo Domingo. Suspended Tampa Bay Rays player Vander Franco did not attend a hearing Thursday before the attorney who is investigating him for having a relationship with a minor.

“At 11:30, if they still haven't arrived, they were already summoned at 11 in the morning, and then the work of the public ministry simply continues,” said lawyer Olga Tina Laverias, head of the directorate. National Children, Women, Adolescent and Family.

On Tuesday, Dominican prosecutors and police showed up at two of Franco's properties in Pani, the baseball player's hometown, about 60 kilometers southwest of the capital, to demand his appearance, but they did not find him.

Prosecutor Tina Laverias waited for Franco and his lawyers in their offices, but decided to move on to other matters half an hour after the meeting time.

On August 14, the Public Ministry of the Dominican Republic confirmed that Franco was being investigated In connection with some publications on social networks, it was suggested that he had a relationship with a minor. The Associated Press could not verify the posts.

Franco is currently taking advantage of the fact that the attorneys representing him have not been called, but that others he has denied should not respond to the request.

Lawyers Luz Díaz Rodríguez, Rosalina Trueba, Cristian Cabrera and Manuel Rodríguez were stripped of their authority to represent Franco and could not accompany him to the prosecutor's office Thursday, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

The document establishes that Franco was requested by authorities on December 27.

“What the criminal process is available, there are many options, and this is not the right time to talk about that,” replied attorney Tina Laverias about the next steps in the case.

Franco was suspended with pay by Major League Baseball in August. When authorities in his home country interrogated him.

The 22-year-old shortstop, who was selected to the All-Star Game, will receive pay and service time while on leave action under the terms of his contract with the players union, which does not set a deadline. Major League Baseball is deciding whether to impose a disciplinary sanction.