The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has decided not to pursue felony charges against former Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias, who was arrested in September on suspicion of domestic violence. Instead, the case will be referred to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office for consideration of misdemeanor charges.
Urias, a 27-year-old free agent, was arrested on September 3 and placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball (MLB) three days later. The incident occurred in a parking lot after an LAFC soccer match, where an eyewitness saw Urias engage in a physical altercation with his wife.
The California Highway Patrol’s major crimes division spent three months investigating the incident before handing the case to the district attorney’s office.
The DA’s office determined that neither the victim’s injuries nor Urias’ criminal history warranted felony charges. Urias has a previous arrest for misdemeanor domestic battery in 2019, for which he was suspended 20 games by MLB.
If suspended again, Urias would be the first repeat offender under MLB’s domestic violence policy, which was implemented in 2015.
Urias’ MLB future is uncertain, despite his impressive career achievements, including a World Series win and Cy Young Award voting.
He was widely projected to sign a $200 million-plus contract on the open market before the incident. Now, even in the absence of a criminal conviction, his career is in jeopardy.
The city attorney’s office will review the case, and MLB is likely to wait for their decision before determining any potential suspension. Urias’ fall from grace serves as a reminder of the serious consequences of domestic violence allegations, even in the absence of felony charges.