Free agent LHP Julio Urias suspended by MLB

Former Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias has been suspended through the 2025 All-Star break for his second violation of MLB's policy against domestic violence, league commissioner Rob Manfred announced Friday.

Urias, 28, hasn't pitched in the majors in more than 18 months. The suspension stems from an incident outside of BMO Stadium in Los Angeles following an MLS game Sept. 3, 2023, in which Urias and his wife were involved a physical altercation.

In May of 2024, Urias pleaded no contest to misdemeanor domestic battery charges related to that incident, per Los Angeles Superior Court records. He was placed on probation for 36 months and was required to complete 30 hours of community service, participate in a domestic violence counseling program and honor the victim's protective order.

"The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball has completed its investigation into allegations that free agent pitcher Julio Urias violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy," Manfred said in a statement. ‘Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Urias violated our Policy and that discipline is appropriate."

Urias is the first player to be suspended twice under MLB's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy which was created in 2015. After a separate incident in 2019, he was suspended 20 games under the policy. He was not criminally charged in that incident.

Urias was placed on administrative leave by the Dodgers following the September 2023 incident and became a free agent when his contract expired at the end of that season.

Urias' latest suspension will be officially lifted on July 17, at which point he would be eligible to sign with any MLB team.

A native of Mexico, Urias is able to sign with any team in the Mexican League given his free agent status.

Urias was 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA in 21 starts in 2023 before his season came to an end. His ERA was more than double his National League-leading 2.16 mark in 2022. In eight major league seasons, Urias is 60-25 with a 3.11 ERA in 158 appearances (122 starts). He recorded the last out of the 2020 World Series.

--Field Level Media