MLB is investigating Urias’ felony arrest

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Major League Baseball has opened an investigation into Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias after he was arrested Sunday on a charge of assault on a spouse or roommate.

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Deputy Maria Lucero, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, confirmed the felony charge Tuesday.

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Urias did not travel with the Dodgers to Miami, where they open a three-game series against the Marlins on Tuesday night. His next start was scheduled for Thursday.

“It’s day by day for us now,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the game. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of things. Over time, with certain things, you learn that simplifying your everyday life is the best way to deal with it.”

Urias was arrested by Department of Public Safety officers late Sunday evening in Exposition Park, south of downtown Los Angeles. The park is home to the BMO Stadium, where Lionel Messi took part in a Major League Soccer game in the presence of numerous celebrities.

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DPS has not yet released details of the arrest. Other than acknowledging “an incident involving Julio Urias,” the Dodgers declined to comment.

Urias posted $50,000 bail and was released early Monday morning, according to sheriff’s department booking records. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 27.

The 27-year-old Mexican-born pitcher was arrested in May 2019 on domestic violence charges. Urias was suspended for 20 games by the MLB, but he was not prosecuted by the Los Angeles district attorney on the condition that he complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program. Since its inception in 2015, no player has been suspended twice under MLB’s common domestic violence policy.

“I didn’t reach out to the team,” Roberts said. “I think everyone is aware of it. I think everyone feels the same way about this very unfortunate circumstance as I do. I don’t think anyone knows everything that happened and happened. I think our guys are just focused on today and letting things happen.

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Urias is the second star player on a rival team to be investigated by MLB in recent weeks after Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was placed on leave while authorities in the Dominican Republic investigated him for an alleged relationship with a minor .

Urias is 11-8 with a 4.60 ERA in 21 starts this season and is expected to become a free agent after the World Series. In his final season in salary arbitration, he is on a one-year, $14.25 million deal.

Urias helped the Dodgers win the World Series in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, going 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA in 23 postseason innings. He earned the save in the decisive Game 6 against Tampa Bay.

The left-hander led the majors in wins in 2021, when he was 20-3 with a 2.96 ERA. He finished third in NL Cy Young Award voting last year after going 17-7 with a best 2.16 ERA in the Netherlands.

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