Major League Baseball’s Department of Investigations is beginning a review of Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna in accordance with the joint policy against domestic violence that MLB and the MLBPA have in place, a person familiar with the situation told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
Ozuna, 30, was arrested Saturday on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and family violence against his wife. He was released from jail Monday after posting $20,000 bond.
The Braves issued a statement Saturday on Ozuna, saying they “fully support Major League Baseball’s policy on domestic violence which stresses to the fullest that our society cannot and will not tolerate domestic violence in any form.” The team added it won’t comment further until the investigation is concluded.
After Ozuna completed a one-year contract with the Braves in 2020, the team re-signed him to a four-year deal worth $65 million guaranteed in February.
Though his bond terms allow him to travel out of state with the Braves, his status with the team remains unclear. Thursday’s game against the Nationals had initially been themed “Marcell Ozuna Arm Sleeve,” where fans presumably would have been gifted with mementos inspired by Ozuna’s neon gear, but that appears to be off.
The 2020 home run leader also faces a possible suspension by Major League Baseball, which has taken a tough stance in recent years on domestic violence.
