Julio Urías dodges felony bullet

The Los Angeles District Attorney has announced that they will not be charging ex-Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías with a felony following his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence. The DA’s charge evaluation worksheet states that “neither the victim’s injuries nor the defendant’s criminal history justify a felony filing.”

Misdemeanor charges could still be filed by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, and additionally Major League Baseball has its own independent investigation into the incident, which will likely be put on hold pending the outcome of city attorney’s office riling.

This is not the first time that Urías has had a brush with the law for domestic violence. Back in 2019, he was suspended by MLB for 20 games following his arrest on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery. No criminal charges were filed in that incident.

Currently on administrative leave from baseball, Urías could have the ignominious distinction of becoming the first repeat offender under the MLB’s domestic violence policy.

The 27-year-old Mexican lefty was arrested on September 3rd following an incident in the BMO Stadium parking lot following an LAFC soccer game, where witnesses saw Urías and his wife get into a physical altercation.

The California Highway Patrol major crimes division investigated for three months before turning over their findings to the DA’s office. The charge-evaluation worksheet stated that Urias pushed his wife against a fence and “pulled her by the hair or shoulders.”

Signed in Mexico shortly after his 16th birthday, Urias has come through the Dodgers’ farm system and has been one of the brightest young talents in the game.

Entering free agency at the end of the 2023 season, Urías was widely expected to sign a deal somewhere north of $200 million. Even with no criminal conviction to his name, it looks like all of that may be in jeopardy.