Atlanta Braves star outfielder Marcell Ozuna, who just landed on the injured list with a finger injury, was arrested on Saturday and is facing charges for family battery and strangulation.
Updated: 10:30 PM EST
The 30-year-old outfielder is not with the team during their road series against the New York Mets. Ozuna, a two-time All-Star, landed on the injured list Friday and is expected to miss six-plus weeks with fractured left middle and ring fingers.
According to Fulton County jail records, Ozuna was arrested and is facing two separate charges. He was taken in by the Sandy Springs Police Department and is facing criminal charges for aggravated assault strangulation and battery – family violence.
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The Braves have since released a statement regarding Ozuna’s arrest.
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When the 2020 MLB season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ozuna suffered a facial injury and his wife was charged with domestic violence. The incident occurred in Miami, with the star outfielder reporting to police that his wife threw a soap dish at him.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan confirmed that Ozuna was arrested Saturday. Major League Baseball will open an investigation into the allegations.
- Marcell Ozuna stats (2020): .213/.288/.356, seven home runs, 26 RBIs and .645 OPS in 188 at-bats
After hitting 18 home runs and posting a 1.067 OPS for the Braves last season, Ozuna re-signed with Atlanta this winter. Through 48 games, he hasn’t quite lived up to the four-year, $64 million contract.
How long could Marcell Ozuna be suspended by MLB?
If MLB’s investigation into Ozuna determines he committed domestic battery or family violence, he will be subject to discipline under MLB’s domestic violence policy. After receiving criticism in recent years for giving light suspensions to players who commit domestic violence, MLB has increasingly ramped up its discipline.
- Free-agent reliever Sam Dyson was suspended for the entire 2021 MLB season
- New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo Germán received an 81-game ban for domestic violence in 2019
- Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera was arrested for domestic violence on May 27, 2019. In July 2019, MLB suspended him for the remainder of the season (85-game suspension).