Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias has been out of action for the last week after he got arrested for an alleged domestic violence incident and was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball.
While it can be extended, an administrative leave only lasts seven days. Thus, reports indicate Urias is set to be activated before Tuesday’s series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
That doesn’t mean that MLB is done investigating though. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, the league continues to check into the matter and obtain the surveillance video from the Beverly Center:
MLB and the MLB Players Association agreed to place Urías on paid administrative leave pending the league’s review of the video, sources said. Mall officials in possession of the video declined to give it to MLB, and while the league could have pursued a seven-day extension of administrative leave, the union and Urías would not have consented and could have filed a grievance, per the jointly negotiated domestic-violence policy.
The league’s investigation into Urías remains open, according to sources
Domestic violence suspensions have typically ranged from 15 to 100 games under the next collective bargaining agreement. While it has not been confirmed by video, Urias’ incident was not believed to be as serious as some of the other previous cases, which warranted suspensions of 50 games or more.
The Dodgers are not allowed to discipline Urias on their own or send him down to the Minor Leagues until MLB’s investigation is complete. Hence, they have no other choice but to activate him on Tuesday.
What could ultimately complicate matters is the Dodgers have a no-tolerance policy for domestic violence. They pulled out of a trade for then Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman in 2015 for an incident that caused him to be suspended for 30 games.
In nine games (four starts) for the Dodgers this season, Urias has gone 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA, 3.02 FIP and 1.09 WHIP with 32 strikeouts and nine walks in 28.1 innings.
There is no denying the talent that the 22-year-old possesses on the field, but if MLB’s investigation reveals that he did get physical with his girlfriend, then it would be hard to see the Dodgers not taking a strict stance on the matter.
Due process will have to run its course first though.
