Braves’ Marcell Ozuna disciplined with 20 unpaid games after domestic violence arrest

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna will be disciplined with 20 unpaid games after he violated Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse pPolicy.

The unpaid suspension is retroactive and applies to all 20 regular season games that he missed while he was on administrative leave during the investigation.

Major League Baseball Commissioner Robert Manfred issued a statement, saying,

“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.”

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Ozuna, 30, was arrested in May and charged after his estranged wife told police that he threatened to kill her, then choked her and threw her against a wall inside their Sandy Springs home.

“Victim stated that said accused grabbed her by her throat by wrapping his fingers around,” an investigator wrote in an arrest affidavit. “He then held her up against the wall, preventing her from breathing.”

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He was originally arrested on one felony charge of aggravated assault by strangulation, however prosecutors dropped the felony charge in July. Ozuna still faced misdemeanor charges of family violence battery and simple assault.

Ozuna, who is a first-time offender, entered the state’s pretrial diversion program, which allows offenders to complete a list of requirements prior to a court date in exchange for the case being dismissed. Ozuna has six months to complete the program. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 13.

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Ozuna is still on the Braves roster.

The Braves issued a statement Monday, reading:

“Any instance of domestic violence is unacceptable and we fully support the decision by the Commissioner’s Office regarding Marcell. We are encouraged to know that Marcell has accepted full responsibility for his actions and is taking the necessary measures to learn and grow from the situation.”

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