The Julio Urías World Baseball Baseball Classic bobblehead has been removed from the 2023 Los Angeles Dodgers promotional schedule and giveaways calendar.
A Urías bobblehead had already been given out in April, but this month’s version was due to feature the left-hander wearing a Team Mexico uniform. Urías participated in the WBC this year for the first time in his career, which he considered a significant honor.
The Dodgers removed the Urías WBC bobblehead from their calendar in the wake of MLB placing the 27-year-old on paid administrative leave, effective immediately. That removed Urías from the Dodgers’ active and 40-man rosters.
“Per an agreement between MLB and the MLBPA, Julio Urías has been placed on Administrative Leave until further notice as MLB continues its ongoing investigation,” the league said in a statement.
“The administrative leave, which is effective immediately, is not disciplinary under the Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. We will refrain from further comment until the appropriate time.”
Urías was arrested late Sunday night on suspicion of felony domestic violence. The incident is believed to have occurred after a soccer match between the Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) and Inter Miami at BMO Stadium, which drew national attention because of the fever pitch created by Lionel Messi.
Urías previously was put on administrative leave by MLB in response to getting arrested in May 2019 on suspicion of domestic battery during an incident at the Beverly Center.
The L.A. prosecutors later office announced they would not press charges against Urías under the conditions that he participated in a City Attorney hearing, commit no acts of violence against anyone, and successfully participate in and complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program in person, and in a group setting.
MLB still suspended Urías for 20 games for violating the league’s domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. He did not return to the team until September of the 2019 season.
What is replacing the Julio Urías bobblehead?
The Dodgers announced the Urías WBC bobblehead has been replaced by a Dodger Stadium giveaway of select premium bobbleheads for the first 30,000 ticketed fans in attendance on Thursday, September 21.
A promotional image from the Dodgers suggests Freddie Freeman, Tommy Lasord and Chris Taylor are going to be among the bobbleheads in circulation that night.
The Dodgers had a similar incident occur during the 2021 season with a Trevor Bauer bobblehead that was replaced with Clayton Kershaw t-shirt night.
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