Braves’ Marcell Ozuna granted bond following domestic violence charges

Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna was released from jail on bond on Monday, after being arrested and over the weekend on charges of allegedly grabbing his wife by the neck and throwing her against a wall.

Fox 5 Atlanta reported on Monday that Ozuna was released from Fulton County jail after paying $20,000 in bond.

He was arrested on Saturday and charged with aggravated assault by strangulation and battery after officers said they walked in on him grabbing his wife by the neck and throwing her against a wall.

Police said Ozuna also struck his wife with his arm, which was in a cast due to a previous injury.

Ozuna made his first court appearance on the charges via video Monday morning, according to Fox.

Fulton County Deputy Attorney Simone Hylton asked Judge Ashkey Osby to not set a bond for Ozuna due to the severity of the charges, but the judge ultimately set a $20,000 bond, according to Fox.

Ozuna was ordered not to have contact with his wife, according to the network, but he is permitted to have contact with his children through a third party.

Ozuna’s attorney, Lars Anderson, told the judge at the hearing that additional facts will come forward that would “put this incident in a more proper perspective,” Fox reported.

Anderson said the couple’s relationship was toxic at best, adding that they are currently in the process of getting divorced, the network reported.

The Sandy Springs Police Department wrote in a statement on Sunday that authorities responded to a report of an assault in progress just after noon on Saturday. Upon arrival, officers heard screaming coming from inside.

They said they entered through the “wide open” front door and found Ozuna “grabbing the victim by the neck and throwing her against a wall.”

The department said the victim had “visible injuries,” but was not transported to the hospital.

The Atlanta Braves posted a statement to its Twitter account on Saturday, writing that the team fully supports MLB’s domestic violence policy, which “stresses to the fullest that our society cannot and will not tolerate domestic violence in any form.”

Statement from the Atlanta Braves: pic.twitter.com/qISsfrUAiL

— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 29, 2021

Ozuna could potentially face a lengthy suspension by the MLB, The Associated Press reported. The league plans to review the incident under the joint domestic violence policy that exists between the MLB and the players’ union.

The outfielder was already on the injured list at the time of the incident with two dislocated fingers caused by an errant slide. He was seen wearing a bright yellow cast during the hearing, according to the AP.

Ozuna is a nine-year veteran of the MLB. He re-signed with the Braves after the 2020 season, when he finished sixth in the National League’s MVP voting, according to ESPN. The outfielder agreed to a four-year, $64 million contract, MLB.com reported at the time.

The Hill has reached out to the Braves for comment.