4:39 PM
Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna was retroactively suspended for 20 regular-season games on Monday by Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred for violating the league's domestic violence policy.
He was on administrative leave for the final 24 days of the regular season, costing him approximately 1.55 million of his $12 million salary.
The investigation into the allegations that Marcell Ozuna violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual assault and Child Abuse Policy has been completed. I have concluded that Mr. Ozuna violated our Policy and that discipline is appropriate, after reviewing the totality of the available evidence.
Ozuna was arrested in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on May 29 after police said they saw him attacking his wife while responding to a call. The felony charge of assault by strangulation was dropped in July.
Ozuna entered a diversion program that could result in his domestic violence case being dismissed. If he complies with the conditions of the diversion program within six months, the charges of family violence battery and simple assault will be dropped.
He re-signed with Atlanta on a four-year, $65 million deal in February after hitting.338 with 19 home runs and 56 runs scored for the Braves in the 2020 season.
"Any instance of domestic violence is unacceptable, and we fully support the decision by the commissioner's office regarding Marcell,'' the Braves said in a statement. Marcell has accepted full responsibility for his actions and is taking necessary measures to learn and grow from the situation.
The Braves' run to their first World Series title since 1995 was ruined by Ozuna, who went on the injured list May 29 with two fingers on his left hand.
The Associated Press contributed to the report.
