Julio Urias, a former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher, has been hit with five misdemeanor charges following an alleged domestic dispute last September. The charges include one count of spousal battery, two counts of domestic battery involving a dating relationship, one count of false imprisonment, and one count of assault. Urias was originally placed on administrative leave indefinitely by MLB after his arrest outside BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, where he attended a Major League Soccer game. He had been arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence, but the district attorney’s office determined that neither the victim’s injuries nor Urias’ criminal history justified a felony filing.
Urias had previously been suspended for 20 games in 2019 after an arrest on suspicion of domestic battery, although he was not charged in that instance. MLB is continuing to investigate the recent case, and no MLB player has been suspended twice for violating the league’s domestic violence policy. Urias spent eight seasons with the Dodgers, finishing third in the NL Cy Young Award voting in 2022 with a 2.16 ERA and leading the league with 20 wins the year before. He pitched to a 4.60 ERA over 21 starts in 2023 and has a career 3.11 ERA over 158 games with an overall record of 60-25 in the regular season. Urias won a World Series with the Dodgers in 2020.
In response to Urias’ absence, the Dodgers signed Yoshinobu Yamamoto to the richest contract ever given to a pitcher and acquired Tyler Glasnow. They also signed Shohei Ohtani, who will return to the mound in 2025. MLB’s investigation into Urias’ case is ongoing, and he could face further disciplinary action if found to have violated the league’s domestic violence policy. The district attorney’s office decided against felony charges in this instance, citing the nature of the incident and lack of prior criminal history as factors. Urias’ legal situation remains uncertain as he navigates these charges and continues to face scrutiny from MLB and the public.
