Phillies' Herrera suspended rest of 2019 for violating domestic violence policy

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera has been suspended for the rest of the 2019 season, including the playoffs, Major League Baseball announced Friday, according to Sporting News' Ryan Fagan.

MLB suspended Herrera for violating its joint domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse policy.

"Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Herrera violated the policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will cover the remainder of the 2019 season," commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.

The unpaid suspension is retroactive to June 24 and will cover at least 85 regular-season games. It's the second-largest punishment ever handed out under the policy, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic.

Herrera won't appeal the punishment and will participate in a treatment program, as per the policy.

"Today, I accepted a suspension from Major League Baseball resulting from my inappropriate behavior," Herrera said in a statement released through the MLB Players Association. "I acted in an unacceptable manner and am terribly disappointed in myself. I alone am to blame for my actions.

"I've taken meaningful steps to assure that nothing like this will ever happen again. I have learned from this experience, and I have grown as a person. I apologies to the Phillies' organization, my teammates, and all my fans. I look forward to rejoining the Phillies once my suspension is served and to continuing to work on being a better partner, teammate, and person."

"The Phillies fully support the decision by the commissioner's office to suspend Odubel Herrera for violating MLB's joint domestic violence policy," read a statement from the team. "All instances of domestic violence and abuse are abhorrent and unacceptable, and we unequivocally support baseball's collective efforts to prevent domestic abuse. We are encouraged by Odubel's acceptance of his discipline as an indication of his willingness to learn from this and change his behavior appropriately."

Herrera, 27, was arrested in May and charged with assault following a domestic violence incident at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. A police statement at that time said that his 20-year-old girlfriend "had visible signs of injury to her arms and neck that was sustained after being assaulted by her boyfriend, David Odubel Herrera, during a dispute."

He appeared in a New Jersey court Wednesday, where the assault charge against him was dismissed after his girlfriend elected not to pursue them. The joint domestic violence policy allows MLB to discipline Herrera internally, even though he no longer faces criminal charges.

Herrera appeared in 39 games for the Phillies in 2019 before his arrest, after which he was placed on administrative leave. His $30.5-million contract ties him to the Phillies through 2021; the team holds a pair of club options on him in 2022 and '23.