Rays SS Wander Franco has "disappeared" from TV after his highlights had been "prominent on a number of televised ads this season," according to John Romano of the TAMPA BAY TIMES. Those highlights were "noticeably absent from commercials" during Friday's Rays-Angels game. The team’s Rays Up commercial also did "not air on Friday,” and Franco “appeared to have been edited out” of a Bally Sports promo commercial. Franco and the Rays agreed Monday that he would "go on the restricted list for at least a week after social media posts last weekend suggested he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a minor in the Dominican Republic” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/19).
FACE VALUE: In Tampa, Shauna Muckle noted Ferg’s Sports Bar in St. Petersburg has a “giant poster” with Franco’s face on it. Ferg’s manager Jake Ferguson said that the sign was put up a month ago and he is “not sure if they’re even allowed to take it down," as the Rays were the "ones that put it up, completely.” He added, "I don’t know if (taking it down) voids something” (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 8/19).
