When he played for the Rays in 2022, the young shortstop made a running catch against the Red Sox with his backhand that felt like a high point right from Derek Jeter‘s glove. A lot of comparisons were created for that one play. And even the 2022 Topps X Derek Jeter “Call of the Captain” series featured that rookie. Wander Franco. Now, while you might not be ready for this, Franco is back in the headlines again, receiving a harsh reality check!

Wander Franco’s name was like a sign of great things to come. As he was an All-Star at 22 just two years back, he made defense seem easy, and he hit .282 in his first three seasons. He got an 11-year, $182 million deal from the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021, but in just two years, things went haywire. He got involved in a controversial case in 2023 and was initially placed under administrative leave, which later ended up in suspension. Being on MLB’s restricted list since August 2023, this put a stop to what had once seemed like a Hall of Fame career.

Fast forward to now, Wander Franco is here with an emotional message through his Instagram story. “My own people, my own country, want to hurt me without me doing anything. The good thing is that you are seeing everything. God is with me, I think you are too. I will leave the networks for a while because even playing the victim of trials, they blame me only for money, with God.” MLB insider Hector Gomez shared Franco’s words on his X account. And the aftermath?

Fans didn’t buy into Wander Franco’s words and advised him via Gomez’s post.

“That young man has problems, his ego is way too inflated, he doesn’t learn from the experience he’s lived through. The best recommendation for him is to lower his public exposure, drop the notoriety, he got lucky and escaped this one, but “luck” won’t always be on his side. Take advantage of this new opportunity and screw around less!” read the translated reaction.

Seems like the “next Derek Jeter” learned how to steal bases, but the idea of him being responsible remains a question to the community, which was a big part of Jeter’s legacy. Plus, the credibility issues don’t stop there…

Missing cash drama: The supposed “next Derek Jeter” calls it theft, not his mistake

A strange event happened in Sosua, Puerto Plata, where two million Dominican pesos were supposedly left in a hotel room. Teodoro Jaquez, Wander Franco’s former lawyer, stated that Franco claimed that he lost his money and then immediately accused theft.

Franco says that he left two million Dominican pesos in his hotel room before heading out. When he came back, half of it was gone. He shared that at Sosua, he was robbed of one million pesos. While there is no official statement about him filing a complaint, Franco did mention that he expects a proper investigation. In the meantime, his ex-lawyer provided a different account.

Jaquez mentioned that Franco kept that one million only, but forgot about it, as shared by Hector Gomez. However, the shortstop instantly rejected that version.

Wander Franco said in a follow-up update posted by Hector Gomez, “I want to go home, but they won’t let me out.” This made him appear trapped and powerless, supporting his narrative rather than acknowledging the lapses.

Right now, fans may feel like Wander Franco attributes his troubles to external factors such as theft, confinement, and oppression, instead of reflecting inward. This tendency to shift blame might reveal more about Franco’s behavior than any social media post could. But what do you think that behavior communicates? Share your thoughts with us…