Pitcher Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers stands on the mound after giving up a three-run home run to the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning at Fenway Park on August 26, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declared on Tuesday that it would not pursue felony charges against Julio Urias, the former Dodgers pitcher, who was under arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. The decision, outlined in the charge-evaluation worksheet, cited that “neither the victim’s injuries nor the defendant’s criminal history justify a felony filing.” The case is now handed over to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for potential misdemeanor charges.
MLB’s Stance
Major League Baseball (MLB) will conduct an independent investigation and await the city attorney’s decision before determining any suspension for Urias, who is currently a free agent. Urias had previously faced a 20-game suspension by MLB in August 2019 after an arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery. However, he did not face any criminal charges at that time. A new suspension could make Urias the first repeat offender under MLB’s domestic violence policy, initiated in August 2015.
Incident Details
Urias, 27, was under arrest on the night of September 3 on suspicion of corporal injury on a spouse, leading to his placement on administrative leave by MLB three days later, effectively ending his season. The incident unfolded in the parking lot of BMO Stadium after an LAFC soccer match, witnessed by an onlooker who reported Urias engaging in a physical altercation with his wife. Urias was released on $50,000 bail the following morning.
Investigation Timeline
The California Highway Patrol’s major crimes division conducted a three-month investigation before transferring the case to the district attorney’s office on Dec. 11. The charge-evaluation worksheet detailed allegations that Urias pushed the victim against a fence and “pulled her by the hair or shoulders.”
Urias’s Baseball Career
Urias, originally signed from Mexico shortly after his 16th birthday, progressed through the Dodgers’ farm system, making a mark as a 19-year-old rookie in 2016. Despite facing major shoulder surgery, he returned to contribute to championship-winning teams, including recording the final out of the 2020 World Series, achieving 20 wins in 2021, and securing a third-place finish in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2022.
Future Uncertainty
As a young free agent with relatively limited innings, Urias anticipated a contract exceeding $200 million before the incident. However, even without a criminal conviction, his MLB future now appears uncertain.
This report used information from ESPN.
