Julio Urias (Photo Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
The investigation into the domestic violence case involving MLB pitcher Julio Urias has concluded, and the case is now in the hands of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, which will determine potential criminal charges against Urias.
Background on Urias’ Arrest
Urias, a longtime Los Angeles Dodgers starter currently a free agent, faced an arrest on September 3 for suspicion of felony domestic violence. Major League Baseball promptly placed him on administrative leave, effectively ending his season. The incident occurred in BMO Stadium’s parking lot after an LAFC soccer match. The California Highway Patrol’s major crimes division spent the subsequent three months investigating before passing the case to the DA’s office on Monday.
The DA’s office’s decision timeline remains uncertain. Any potential MLB suspension, part of an ongoing independent investigation, may likely hinge on the DA’s judgment, as the league can’t interview Urias until then.
Details of the Incident
An arrest report from September 7 outlined a concerned citizen witnessing a man attacking a woman after the September 3 match, flagging the police without recognizing the man as Urias. Officers from the state police agency approached the couple, confirming a physical altercation. Urias was under arrest on suspicion of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant just after 11 p.m. PT, booked into jail around 1 a.m., and released on $50,000 bail nearly four hours later.
Urias’ Baseball Journey and Current Challenges
Urias, signed from Mexico at 16, navigated the Dodgers’ farm system to become a standout rookie in 2016. After recovering from major shoulder surgery, he played a crucial role in championship-caliber teams, concluding the 2020 World Series and earning 20 wins in 2021. In 2022, he finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting.
As a free agent with relatively few innings, Urias was poised for a lucrative $200 million-plus contract before his arrest. Now, he faces the possibility of another suspension, three years after a 20-game ban following a previous domestic violence allegation. Urias was not criminally charged in the earlier incident, making him the first potential repeat offender under the league’s 8-year-old domestic violence policy.
