Wander Franco, the talented shortstop for the Tampa Bay Rays, is married to Rachelly Paulino, a woman who has been by his side since their teenage years.
Wander Franco and Rachelly Paulino grew up in the same city, Bani, in the Dominican Republic.
They were childhood sweethearts, meeting as young teens in their hometown, about 65 miles from the capital, Santo Domingo.
Some media posts from Franco’s mother, Nancy Aybar, show that Rachelly was already close to the family by 2016, when she was just 15 years old.
Nancy even addressed Rachelly, her “daughter-in-law,” in a Facebook post celebrating Rachelly’s birthday, hinting at how serious their relationship was even then.
Wander and Rachelly likely started dating in their early teens, around 2014 or 2015, based on the longevity of their relationship. They were together for several years before taking a big step in their relationship.
The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Wander Samuel Franco Jr., in late 2018, when they were still dating.
After dating for about six or seven years, Wander and Rachelly got married in 2021, right after the MLB season. At the time, Rachelly was 20 years old and Wander was 21.
The couple kept their marriage private, with Wander never mentioning Rachelly’s name in public interviews, choosing to keep their personal life out of the spotlight.
After their marriage, the couple welcomed their second son in 2022; however, the name of their younger son hasn’t been shared publicly.
Wander has spoken proudly about his first son in interviews, even showing off a tattoo dedicated to him in a 2019 ESPN interview.
The family of four settled into a $1.55 million, five-bedroom home in Tampa, Florida, purchased in May 2023. Besides that, information surrounding Rachelly isn’t available.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- In June 2025, Wander Franco faced serious legal trouble in the Dominican Republic. He was found guilty of sexual abuse of a minor, related to a four-month relationship with a 14-year-old girl in 2022, when he was 21.
- Wander Franco was born to parents Wander Franco Sr. and Nancy Aybar. His father played minor league baseball in the 1990s.
