MLB and the MLBPA agreed to extend Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna’s administrative leave through the postseason, an MLB official told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Tuesday.
Ozuna was placed on administrative leave Sept. 10 under the joint MLB-MLBPA domestic-violence, sexual-assault and child-abuse policy. It’s not considered a disciplinary action, and Ozuna is paid during his leave.
Ozuna, who last played in a game May 25, was arrested on domestic-violence charges against his wife, Genesis, days later while he was on the injured list with two broken fingers. Felony charges were later dropped to two misdemeanors of family-violence battery and assault.
The 30-year-old Ozuna agreed to enter the pretrial diversion program earlier this month, which could lead to charges being dismissed. The program’s conditions placed Ozuna on six months of supervision, enrolled him in a 24-week family-violence intervention program and required him to complete at least 200 hours of community service, according to Fulton County Deputy District Attorney Simone Hylton. Ozuna must also take an anger-management course and undergo a psychological evaluation.
If conditions are met early, Ozuna’s supervision could end after three months. If he completes the pretrial diversion program, Ozuna’s criminal charges would be dismissed. He could still face punishment from MLB, which is undergoing its own investigation.
Ozuna was in the first year of a four-year contract that guaranteed him $65 million. The Braves signed him to the deal last winter after he helped the team to its first National League Championship Series appearance in nearly two decades.
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