Pitcher Julio Urias suspended through All-Star break by MLB

Article content

NEW YORK — Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias was suspended through the All-Star break by Major League Baseball on Friday under its domestic violence policy with the players’ association.

Article content

Article content

Article content

Urias had pleaded no contest last May to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery. The penalty was the second for Urias under the policy following a 20-game suspension in 2019. MLB said he will be reinstated from the restricted list on July 17 and as a free agent can sign with any team.

A 28-year-old left-hander, Urias has not pitched since Sept. 1, 2023. He was arrested two days later outside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where he had attended a Major League Soccer game on Sept. 3 involving Inter Miami and Lionel Messi. The Department of Public Safety said it was contacted by someone, whose name was not publicly identified, regarding a physical altercation between a man and a woman.

Urias initially was given a felony charge of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, and he was placed on administrative leave by MLB that Sept. 6.

Article content

Article content

Urias pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor domestic battery the following May 1 as four other misdemeanor charges were dropped. Los Angeles City Attorney’s office spokesman Ivor Pine said Urias was placed on 36 months of summary probation and ordered to complete 30 days of community labour. Urias must also complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling course, pay a domestic violence fund fee, not possess any weapons, not use any force or violence, pay restitution to the victim and abide by a protective order.

“Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Urias violated our policy and that discipline is appropriate,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement Friday.

Article content

MLB said Urias agreed to be evaluated by the joint policy board established by MLB and the players’ association and to comply with any of its recommendations.

Urias’ agent, Scott Boras, said the pitcher was not making any statement.

Urias became a free agent after the 2023 World Series when his $4.7 million, one-year contract expired.

Urias was also arrested in May 2019 on suspicion of domestic battery. While he was suspended by MLB, he wasn’t prosecuted by the LA city attorney on the condition he complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program.

Over eight major league seasons, all with the Dodgers, Urias is 60-25 with a 3.11 ERA. He led the National League with a 2.16 ERA in 2022 and was a member of the team that won the 2020 World Series, going 4-0 with a save and a 1.17 ERA in six postseason appearances.

Article content

Urias became the first player suspended under the domestic violence policy since New York Yankees pitcher Jimmy Cordero on July 5, 2023. Cordero missed the final 73 games of the season, spent last season with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan’s Pacific League and has signed with Mexico’s Toros de Tijuana for this season.

Others penalized under the domestic violence policy include Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and pitcher Domingo German, Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell, Toronto pitcher Roberto Osuna, Colorado shortstop Jose Reyes and Atlanta outfielder Hector Olivera.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco remains on the restricted list and hasn’t played since Aug. 12, 2023, but has not been disciplined by MLB.

Article content