Former Dodger Julio Urías charged from 2023 domestic violence arrest

Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks
Los Angeles Dodgers v Arizona Diamondbacks / Christian Petersen/GettyImages

On Sept. 3, then-Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was arrested outside of BMO Stadium following an LAFC soccer match under suspicion of felony domestic violence. He posted bail and was released, but was subsequently placed on administrative leave by MLB on Sept. 6 pending an investigation by the league.

It was Urías' second arrest and second imposed leave (the first came in 2019, following a similar incident for which he wasn't charged); MLB didn't specify a length, but he didn't make another start for the Dodgers during the 2023 season. Urías hit free agency at the end of the year but received no contract offers.

On Jan. 9, the LA District Attorney's office declined to press charges against him, but three months later, on April 9, the City Attorney's office announced it would charge him on five misdemeanor counts: "one count of spousal battery, two counts of domestic battery involving a dating relationship, one count of false imprisonment and one count of assault." He's scheduled to be arraigned on May 2.

Former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías charged with five misdemeanors following September arrest

It's unsurprising that the Dodgers wanted to stay away from Urías during his free agency, despite the tear he'd been on for them since 2020, when he recorded the final out in the Dodgers' World Series win over the Rays. LA more than compensated for the loss by acquiring Tyler Glasnow and signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto in December, then signing James Paxton in January, on top of expected returns from Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw later in the season.

If Urías is found guilty for the charges brought against him, he could face anywhere between six months and 4 1/2 years in prison. Even if he's not found guilty, MLB has its own separate processes by which it disciplines players regardless of formal criminal convictions, which could see Urías facing a long suspension from the game.

The Dodgers have said nary a word about Urías in his absence, and things are likely to stay that way for the foreseeable future.

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