The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday it will not file felony charges against free-agent pitcher Julio Urías, per ESPN’s Alden González.
He could still be charged with misdemeanors, however.
Urías was arrested in September on suspicion of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, according to González, after a man told authorities he saw a person—later identified as the MLB pitcher—attacking a woman in the BMO Stadium parking lot following an LAFC game.
According to the DA’s charge evaluation worksheet, Urías “pushed his wife against a fence and pulled her by the hair or shoulders” on the night in question, but “neither the Victim’s injuries nor the Defendant’s criminal history justify a felony filing,” per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.
Urías was released on $50,000 bail later that night. Major League Baseball placed him on indefinite administrative leave three days later as part of its domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy. Under such a leave, Urías was still paid but not permitted to play.
“The Dodgers take all allegations of the kind in this case very seriously, and we do not condone or excuse any acts of domestic violence,” the team said in a statement at the time. “We are fully cooperating with MLB’s investigation and support MLB’s and the commissioner’s enforcement of the policy.”
The 27-year-old was also arrested for domestic battery in 2019, though he wasn’t charged with any crimes as part of a deal that saw him required to complete a domestic violence counseling program for one year. Major League Baseball suspended him for 20 games, however.
No player has ever been suspended twice under the league and Players Union’s joint policy on domestic violence. It’s still possible that Urías could be suspended by the league despite Tuesday’s decision.
Urias has spent all eight of his seasons in MLB with the Dodgers. He is currently a free agent.
