Free agent Julio Urías, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was reinstated from MLB’s restricted list last month after serving a second suspension tied to the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
The suspension stemmed from an incident involving Urías and his girlfriend at an LAFC game in September 2023, when he was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence.
On March 21, Urías was suspended by MLB following the conclusion of their investigation into the incident. MLB suspended Urías through the 2025 All-Star break.
The left-hander has not pitched in a Major League game in nearly two years, but Scott Boras said his client aims to make a return now that his suspension is over, according to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times:
“He still has every intention to continue his career,” Boras said here Monday. “He’s getting in shape. Obviously, he’ll have options that are open to him.”
Urías has been capable of signing with any team since MLB completed its investigation and announced the suspension on March 21.
During his last season in the Majors, Urías had had a 4.60 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 117 strikeouts in 117.1 innings pitched for the Dodgers.
The best season of his career came in 2022, when he finished with a 2.16 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 166 strikeouts. Urías placed third in National League Cy Young voting that season, behind winner Sandy Alcántara and second-place finisher Max Fried.
In the past six years, there have been seven players to be suspended under the new domestic violence policy established in 2015. Of those seven players, only Domingo Germán and Marcell Ozuna continued their Major League careers.
Germán played parts of four seasons beyond his suspension in 2020, while Ozuna has remained with the Braves following his suspension in 2021.
Urías was the first repeat offender under the new policy, with his first suspension occurring in 2019.
Julio Urías’ career with the Dodgers
The Dodgers signed Urías out of Mexico at the age of 16 in 2012. He made his MLB debut at 19 years old in 2016 and went 60-25 with a 3.11 ERA in 158 career appearances across eight seasons with the team.
Urías was twice named to the All-MLB second team, was the NL wins leader in 2021 and the NL ERA leader in 2022. He was also part of the Dodgers’ 2020 World Series championship team, notably recording the final out in Game 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
He finished in the top seven in NL Cy Young voting in both 2021 and 2022.
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