Former Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic battery charge yesterday, per a report from the Los Angeles City News Service. The L.A. City Attorney’s office tells the City News Service that Urias will be placed on 36 months of probation, complete 30 days of community service, complete a year-long domestic violence counseling program, pay a fee to a domestic violence fund, pay restitution to the victim and abide by a protective order. He’s also forbidden from possessing any weapons. A second domestic battery charge, one count of injuring a spouse, one count of assault and one count of false imprisonment were dropped as a contingency of Urias’ no-contest plea to the charge of misdemeanor battery.
Back in 2019, Urias was suspended 20 games under the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy but was never criminally charged. He was arrested a second time in Sept. 2023 after another wave of allegations arose when he was allegedly captured on cell phone video in a public altercation with a woman following an LAFC Major League Soccer match. He was released from custody after posting a $50,000 bond.
Documents from the District Attorney’s Office back in January indicated that Urias “pushed the victim against a fence and pulled her by the hair or shoulders” but ultimately referred Urias to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office for misdemeanor charges rather than felony charges. Last month, the L.A. City Attorney brought five misdemeanor charges: one count of spousal battery, two counts of domestic battery involving a dating relationship, one count of assault and one count of false imprisonment.
With criminal proceedings drawing to a close, Major League Baseball will now presumably move to conclude its own investigation into the matter. MLB placed Urias on paid administrative leave just two days after the incident took place. That’s standard practice for players who are being investigated under the joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy — and administrative leave in and of itself is not considered punitive in nature. However, in the event that criminal charges are brought forth and/or that the league’s own investigation determines that a suspension is warranted, any pay accrued while on leave can be rescinded.
If and when the league follows Urias’ no-contest plea with a suspension, he’ll become the first player in history to receive multiple suspensions under the joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Urias became a free agent following the 2024 season and remains unsigned.
