Major League Baseball has formally declared that Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías has been put on administrative leave as the league undergoes an investigation.
Julio Urias was arrested in Los Angeles in May 2019 on felony domestic violence charges. He was arrested by the Department of Public Safety officers at Exposition Park.
Urias was released on a $50,000 bond and the court date is due on Sept. 27 for the charges of domestic battery.
Under the MLB’s domestic violence policy, Urias was suspended for 20 games by MLB back in 2019. However, he was not prosecuted by the city attorney on the grounds that he had to join a 52-week domestic violence counseling program.
On Wednesday, September 6 the MLB again announced the administrative leave for the pitcher Urais while they investigate the charges.
The 27-year-old Mexican-born pitcher is in the last year of his contract and will soon become a free agent after this season.
Under the MLB’s joint domestic violence policy, no other player has been suspended twice since it was implemented in 2015.
The MLB and the Players Association’s Joint Domestic Violence allows the commissioner to unilaterally enforce a player charged with domestic battery for seven days.
But in the In Urias’ case, the decision is taken by the MLB and the union to put him on indefinite administrative leave while the league investigates.
Any player placed on administrative leave will still be receiving his pay and accrue service time.
On the question of suspension, it seems unlikely for MLB to issue any ruling on Urias’s case before there is a resolution in the legal system.
In the case, MLB finds a cause to suspend him, this will most certainly come in the next contract he signs after he becomes a free agent.
Based on the findings of the investigations, MLB has in the past issued disciplinary actions even if the player is not found guilty. All disciplinary suspensions are unpaid.
Urias’ attorney, Blair Berk, has not issued any comment on his proceedings.
