Wander Franco is trying to fast‑track his return to high‑level baseball by suiting up for the Dominican Republic at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Santo Domingo later this month. The 25‑year‑old has not appeared in affiliated ball since Aug. 12, 2023, and remains on Major League Baseball’s restricted list. For now, though, a mix of roster deadlines, federation paperwork and his recent criminal verdict has slammed that particular door shut.
Dominican Olympic Committee says he can't be registered
Garibaldi Bautista, president of the Dominican Olympic Committee, said on a radio program that Franco was never placed on the federation’s preliminary “long list” of eligible players and therefore cannot be added to the final roster. Centro Caribe Sports has also confirmed that the competition’s registration rules do not allow a late entry, according to Acento.
Federation pushed to add him
The Dominican Baseball Federation (FEDOM) says its technical staff and leadership submitted paperwork in an effort to add Franco anyway, with president Juan Núñez telling reporters the player “has no legal impediment” to be called up. FEDOM’s push to get him onto the roster was reported by Central Noticias.
Conviction, judicial pardon and what the record shows
In late May, a Dominican court again found Franco criminally responsible on charges of sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, but the judges issued a judicial pardon that spared him prison time. The panel described him as a “material victim, but not a legal one.” The minor’s mother was again sentenced to 10 years, according to reporting by The Associated Press.
Rules and deadlines are the immediate barrier
Under Centro Caribe Sports’ qualification system, National Olympic Committees must put athletes on a preliminary roster before final entries are accepted, and anyone not listed there typically cannot be added later. That administrative rule is spelled out in the competition handbook for Santo Domingo 2026, according to the official Centro Caribe Sports manual.
Why this complicates any MLB comeback
Franco has not played since Aug. 12, 2023, and remains on MLB’s restricted list while the league continues its review of the case. Major League Baseball has said it is aware of the verdict and will conclude its investigation at the appropriate time, and analysts warn that a conviction for sexual offenses can make securing a U.S. work visa difficult, per coverage from the Tampa Bay Times.
For now, the tug‑of‑war between FEDOM’s efforts and the Olympic committee’s technical ruling means Franco’s fastest path back to professional baseball almost certainly will not run through Santo Domingo. Officials on both sides say they will keep pressing their arguments, but the calendar and the paperwork appear to have locked out any last‑minute roster surprise.
