Former Dodgers left-hander's future dims again amid domestic violence issues; Mexico's head coach firmly states he will not be called up

As the World Baseball Classic approaches, each team is evaluating players for their final rosters before submission. When asked recently about the possibility of including former Dodgers lefty Julio Urías, Mexico's manager Benjamín Gil stated unequivocally that Urías will not be selected to play for Mexico.

Urías was suspended for 20 games by Major League Baseball in 2019 due to a domestic violence incident. In September 2023, he was again reported to have assaulted a woman, allegedly his partner, outside a stadium in Los Angeles. MLB placed him on the restricted list pending investigation and officially suspended him last March, although his suspension ended during the summer of last year.

Urías last appeared in an MLB game on September 1, 2023, and has not signed with any team since, remaining unsigned through 2026. As the Classic nears, some media recalled the left-hander who once led the National League in wins and ERA, prompting inquiries to Mexico’s coach Gil about his chances of participating.

Addressing this topic in a recent interview, Gil clearly stated that Urías is not eligible to play for the national team: “Although Urías is not currently suspended by MLB, I believe he still has unresolved legal issues in the U.S. According to our management’s communication with the league, he cannot participate until these matters are fully settled.”

Urías represented Mexico in the 2023 Classic but struggled in two starts, posting a high 9.00 ERA, pitching 9 innings while allowing 3 home runs and 7 earned runs.