Julio Urías: Strike Two, You’re Out!
Shortly after 11 P.M. on Sunday, Sept. 3, Julio Urías, the pitcher who drove the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the World Series Championship in 2020, was arrested and booked on a $50,000 bond for felony domestic violence charges. An eyewitness made a call regarding a physical altercation between a man and a woman after the LAFC-Inter Miami match outside of BMO Stadium in Exposition Park. The bystander also claimed to have recorded the incident–which is now in the possession of police.
Urías–who originated from Sinaola, Mexico– is the son of Carlos Urías, a one-year professional catcher in Mexico. Starting his baseball career in the Mexico National Team, he began playing and joining the team for road trips at the age of 10. Not long after, at age 14, Urías came in contact with the Dodgers through scouter Mike Brito, who, at the time, scouted Fernando Valenzuela. Again, shortly after the first encounter in 2012, Urías took part in a showcase at the age of 15 in Oaxaca, Mexico. This is where the Dodgers discovered the young athlete again and on Aug. 12–Urías’s 16th birthday– the Dodgers signed him.
He officially made his professional debut as the youngest player in the league with the Great Lakes Loon (located in the Midwest) in 2013. In 2014, he played for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League where he achieved much success. According to OSDB Sports, Urías made “25 appearances, he was 2–2 with a 2.36 ERA. He struck out 109 batters while walking only 37.” He was also honored as the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the 2014 Year. He continued to be honored for his strengths. Urías “was honored as MiLB.com’s organizational All-Star and was also selected to the World Team for the 2014 XM All-Star Futures Game, becoming the youngest-ever player to participate in the contest at the age of 17.” From a young age, Urías was meant to be a champion and there was no surprise that he would win with the Dodgers.
In 2020 (the ultimate pandemic year) Urías was officially identified as a full-time starter for the Dodgers. It was during the last batter-up in 2020 when Urías finished off the World Series Championship and endured the ultimate champion win on the pitching mount. He was then signed with the Dodgers for another year in 2021 with a one-year 3.6 million dollar contract. Clearly, the Dodgers knew he was one to keep.
However, back in 2019, before being labeled the pitcher to drive the Dodgers home to a championship, Urías was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence. According to witnesses, on May 13, Urías was seen shoving the woman he was with at a Los Angeles parking lot. However, the woman told investigators he did not shove her and she fell accidentally while arguing in the parking lot. With this, Urías did not face charges for the case of domestic battery. Prosecutors for the City of Los Angeles explained that he would not face charges so long as he would not be arrested for the same behavior within the next year (2020). However, Urías did need to adhere to the following conditions to avoid charges, “that Mr. Urías participate in a City Attorney hearing; that he commit no acts of violence against anyone; and that he successfully participate in and complete a 52-week domestic violence counseling program in person, and in a group setting.” Besides this, he was put on a 20-game suspension by the MLB under their domestic violence policy. But, he was back on the mount in no time leading to their celebratory Championship in 2020.
Clearly, Urías was on his best behavior. Though, four years later to current time, he has found himself back on news outlets everywhere after being arrested a second time for domestic violence charges. According to ESPN, “No MLB player has been suspended twice for violating the policy since its institution in 2015.” Fans showed their anger and frustration with the news. On ESPN’s Instagram post which broke the news, comments included; “Ban this guy from the league. Two strikes and you’re out when it comes to domestic violence,” “Get this joke out of the league,” “SECOND incident in the past four years…BRO leave that chick alone and get some help.” As a result of the news outbreak, Urías has been put on indefinite administrative leave while MLB investigates the allegations he is facing. On Sept. 11, it was announced that the Dodgers cleared out Urías’ locker–with his name stripped off–in the clubhouse, which now belongs to newest member Kolten Wong. Besides this, the murals that were designed throughout the Dodger Stadium have been covered and attire with his name are no longer found in the Dodger Stadium stores. Dave Roberts replied when asked about these decisions and whether the Dodgers are moving forward without Urías, “I think so. That’s where we’re at. There’s not much for me to comment on the fact that it’s just like I said on the first day, it’s just a very, very unfortunate, sad situation.”
Urías went from one of the best Pitchers in the league to a now disappointing player within the MLB. As stated, “Either way this story unfolds, it is becoming more apparent that Julio Urías will no longer wear or be seen in a Dodger uniform.”
Photo Courtesy of Jack Harris / Los Angeles Times.
