The trial of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco started Monday in the Dominican Republic in a sexual abuse case involving a 14-year-old girl.

Franco told judges he wants justice to be done.

Franco has been charged in the northern province of Puerto Plata with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking.

Prosecutors introduced documents as pieces of evidence against the 24-year-old Franco during the first hearing, and added they will call at least seven witnesses in a trial that is expected to proceed on Thursday, Friday and next Monday.

Franco heard the charges against him and could be sentenced to up to 30 years in jail.

“I heard all they said, but I wanted to say that justice must be done,” Franco told the judges.

Irina Ventura, one of Franco’s attorneys, said part of the evidence against her client is fraudulent and illegal. Teodosio Jaquez, another member of the player’s legal team, said that the underage girl denied having sexual relations with the player.

Prosecutor Claudio Cordero said all the evidence “was obtained in a lawful manner, are self-sufficient and will lead to a conviction, which is sought by the prosecutor’s office.”

Franco was having an All-Star season in 2023 before Dominican authorities began investigating allegations he had been in a relationship with a minor and paid her mother thousands of dollars for her consent. The trial was initially scheduled for Dec. 12, but was postponed until June.

The trial could take up to eight months to conclude, based on the average duration of trials in the Dominican Republic.

Royals call up top prospect Caglianone

The Kansas City Royals have called up top prospect Jac Caglianone in the hopes of jump-starting their languishing offense, and the slugging first baseman and outfielder is expected to make his major league debut on Tuesday night in St. Louis.

The Royals announced the move while optioning outfielder Dairon Blanco to Triple-A Omaha.

Caglianone’s promotion comes on the heels of a second straight 1-0 game for Kansas City — it split them with the AL Central rival Tigers — and amid a season in which the Royals have struggled to score runs. They’ve hit a big league-worst 34 homers and have scored 194 runs in all, tied with Pittsburgh ahead of only lowly Colorado heading into Monday night’s games.

The 22-year-old Caglianone was the sixth overall pick out of Florida in last year’s amateur draft.

Mariners to retire Big Unit’s number in 2026

Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s No. 51 will be retired by the Seattle Mariners during a pregame ceremony next season.

Johnson threw the first no-hitter in Mariners’ history on June 2, 1990 — 35 years ago Monday — and in 1995 became their first Cy Young Award winner.

The exact date of the ceremony will be announced after the 2026 major league schedule is finalized.

Johnson, 61, went 130-74 with a 3.42 ERA across 10 seasons with the Mariners.

Johnson enjoyed more success with the Arizona Diamondbacks, with whom he won four consecutive Cy Young Awards in addition to a World Series championship in 2001. However, the lanky left-hander nicknamed the “Big Unit” because of his 6-foot-10 frame rose to prominence with Seattle after arriving in a 1989 trade with the Montreal Expos.

Man who threatened McCullers online found

A man who made online death threats aimed at the family of Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. lives overseas and was intoxicated at the time and told Houston police he was sorry for what he had done, a department spokesperson.

McCullers received the threats on social media directed at his children after a poor start against the Cincinnati Reds on May 10.

The Astros said Houston police and MLB security were notified. McCullers and his wife Kara have two young daughters. Astros owner Jim Crane hired 24-hour security for them.

Police public information officer Erika Ramirez said the man who made the threats was identified during an investigation. Because no charges have been filed, police are not disclosing his identity or where he lives.

Briefly

Orioles >> The Baltimore Orioles reinstated Colton Cowser from the 60-day injured list, bringing back the outfielder prior to a six-game road trip. Cowser has been out with a broken left thumb. He hasn’t played since May 30.

athletics >> The Athletics placed third baseman/outfielder Miguel Andujar and right-hander Gunnar Hoglund on the injured list.Andujar was placed on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique. Hoglund has a left hip impingement and was placed on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Sunday.