ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays released a statement?Sunday night?noting that Major League Baseball is looking into social media posts about star shortstop Wander Franco that surfaced earlier in the day.

¡°During today¡¯s game, we were made aware of the social media posts that are circulating regarding Wander Franco,¡± the club¡¯s statement said. ¡°We take the situation seriously and are in close contact with Major League Baseball as it conducts its due diligence.¡±

On Sunday, social media posts went viral alleging that Franco, 22, had been in an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Franco did not play in the Rays¡¯ 9-2 loss to the Guardians?on Sunday afternoon?at Tropicana Field. Manager Kevin Cash said it was ¡°just a day off¡± for the All-Star shortstop, who had started each of the Rays¡¯ previous 20 games and 39 of the last 40.

¡°I'm aware of the speculation. I'm not going to comment any further on that,¡± Cash said. ¡°But the day off was because [it was] a day off."

The Rays begin a three-game series against the Giants on Monday in San Francisco.