Former Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher Julio Urias, who last pitched in a Major League Baseball game more than 18 months ago, has been officially sanctioned by MLB for violating its domestic violence policy.
Urias was suspended until the 2025 All-Star break. He will be able to return on July 17. A free agent since the end of the 2023 season, Urias will be able to sign with any team from then on.
The Sinaloa-born left-hander becomes the first player to be suspended twice under MLB’s domestic violence and sexual assault policy, and could sign with any team from July 17.
MLB completes investigation into Julio Urias
“The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball has completed its investigation into the allegations that free agent pitcher Julio Urias violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Policy on Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement announcing the sanction
After a thorough review of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Urias violated our policy and that discipline is warranted
Urias was placed on administrative leave in September 2023 while MLB investigated an incident involving Urias and his wife outside BMO Stadium following a LAFC match
Urias was arrested on September 3 and eventually pleaded not guilty to the assault charges. In April 2024, he was given three years probation, ordered to complete 30 days of community service and a 52-week domestic violence therapy course.
This is the second time MLB has suspended Urias following a domestic violence incident. He was also suspended for 20 games following an incident in 2019.
Teams play a variable number of games before the All-Star break. However, Urias’ suspension will be the fourth longest since MLB adopted its domestic violence policy in 2015. Trevor Bauer was suspended for 324 games in 2022. This sanction was reduced to 194 games following an appeal. Sam Dyson was suspended for a full season in 2021. And Jose Torres was suspended for 100 games in 2018.
None of the three have returned to MLB since their suspensions, although Bauer has publicly pushed for an opportunity while pitching in Japan and Mexico over the past two seasons.
Urias was the rising star the Dodgers wanted
At just 28 years old, Urias was a rising star among National League pitchers, ready to take advantage of the free agent market after the 2023 season, when his career was cut short by the second domestic violence incident.
Urias recorded the final out of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series victory and then was the only 20-game winner in baseball in 2021, going 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA. Urias finished third in the National League Cy Young Award in 2022, going 17-7 with a 2.16 ERA, leading the National League.
The arrival of free agency seemed to destabilize Urias in 2023. He had a record of just 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA in 21 starts before being administratively suspended.
It was speculated that Urias could appear in the Mexican League or in winter ball before returning to MLB, but he never did. MLB’s suspension could indicate that Urias plans to return.
As part of his suspension, Urias also agreed to be evaluated by a policy board jointly overseen by MLB and the players’ union, and to comply with any recommended treatment plan.
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