Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office has charged Julio Urías, a left-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent, with five misdemeanors. These charges stem from an incident that occurred last September while he was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The charges include spousal battery, domestic battery involving a dating relationship, false imprisonment, and assault. An arraignment for Urías is scheduled for May 2.
Urías was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball shortly after the alleged incident. According to reports, he was accused of being involved in a physical altercation with his wife outside of BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. This incident allegedly occurred following a soccer match between Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami and LAFC. MLB has the authority to punish players who violate their policies related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse, even if no criminal charges are filed against them.
Despite his off-field troubles, Urías has had success on the field. He has finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting twice and led the league in earned run average in 2022. However, he has not pitched since being placed on administrative leave. His contract with the Dodgers expired at the end of last season, leaving him as a free agent without a team to play for.
This is not the first time Urías has been involved in a domestic violence incident. In 2019, he was suspended for 20 games after being accused of shoving his girlfriend to the ground in a parking lot. If MLB decides to suspend Urías again, it would likely be a significant ban given his previous offense. If Urías is suspended, he would be the first player in MLB history to be punished multiple times for violating these policies.
In conclusion, Julio Urías’ off-field troubles have impacted his career both on and off the field
