Major League Baseball handed Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna a retroactive, unpaid suspension of 20 games for violating its joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy.
Ozuna, 31, was arrested in May and charged with aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after police allegedly saw him grab his wife by her neck and throw her against a wall. Originally felonies, the charges were reduced to misdemeanor family violence battery and misdemeanor simple assault.
He did not play again in 2021 for the Braves, who went on to win the World Series.
Per an MLB news release, Ozuna’s retroactive suspension includes all 20 games he missed while placed on administrative leave during the season. He is eligible to return at the start of the 2022 season.
“My office has completed its investigation into the allegations that Marcell Ozuna violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Having reviewed the totality of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Ozuna violated our Policy and that discipline is appropriate,” commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
Ozuna reached a resolution in court in September by which he would enter a diversion program and have the charges against him dropped upon completion.
–Field Level Media