Julio Urías, the renowned Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB), has established himself as one of the premier starters in the league since making his MLB debut in 2016. Nevertheless, his career has been marred by legal issues related to alleged domestic violence. Specifically, he was arrested in 2019 and subsequently suspended for 20 games by MLB.
More recently, in 2023, he faced felony charges, and the outcome of his case remains pending. Consequently, his future with the Dodgers remains uncertain.
On the evening of Sunday, September 3, 2023, Urías was apprehended near the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and BMO Stadium, coinciding with a soccer match between LAFC and Lionel Messi Inter Miami. The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) reported that Urías was taken into custody around 1 a.m. on Monday and subsequently released on $50,000 bail at 4:47 a.m. He is slated to appear in court on September 27, 2023.
Julio Urías Arrested Again for Domestic Violence.
The specifics surrounding the incident that resulted in his arrest remain unclear at this time. A representative from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has indicated that Urías was apprehended on a felony charge of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. However, no details regarding the identity or condition of the purported victim have been revealed.
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On Monday, the Dodgers released a statement acknowledging the incident involving Urías, informing that he would not be accompanying the team as they embark on a six-game road trip starting Tuesday in Miami.
The statement also stated, "We are aware of an incident involving Julio Urías. While we attempt to learn all the facts, he will not be traveling with the team. The organization has no further comment at this time."
Julio Urías, the renowned Mexican professional baseball pitcher.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke about Julio before Tuesday's game, expressing shock at the arrest and stating he couldn't add much due to the ongoing MLB investigation. Roberts also expressed sympathy for everyone involved, calling the situation "sad on every level." When asked if the decision likely means the team will "move on" from Urías, Roberts said, "I think so. I think that's kind of where we're at right now."
The Dodgers have removed Urías' locker from the clubhouse and covered up at least two of his murals at Dodger Stadium.
According to a source, Major League Baseball is investigating the case. When players are charged with domestic violence, the league usually places them on administrative leave during the investigation, as was the case with Urías before his suspension in 2019. Since the policy was established in 2015, no MLB player has been suspended twice for violating it.
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Urías has previously faced domestic violence allegations. In May 2019, he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery after an incident in a Los Angeles mall parking lot. He was accused of shoving a woman to the ground during an argument.
Although he was not charged by the L.A. city attorney’s office, he was required to complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program and commit no acts of violence for the following year. Additionally, he accepted a 20-game suspension from MLB without appealing.
Urías, a native of Culiacán, Mexico, signed with the Dodgers at age 16 in 2012 and made his major league debut in 2016. He has been among the top starters in baseball over the past three years, reaching a peak last season with a National League-leading 2.16 ERA and securing a third-place finish in the Cy Young voting. His contract is set to expire after this season.
However, he has encountered difficulties this year, registering a 4.60 ERA and conceding a career-high 24 home runs in 117⅓ innings. While initially slated to pitch on Thursday, his status is currently uncertain.
