Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves was released from jail after posting $20,000 bond Monday on charges of aggravated assault by strangulation and battery against his wife. The Braves outfielder is accused of choking his wife and slamming her against a wall, according to reports.
The more serious charge carries a penalty of three to 20 years in prison.
His wife, Genesis Guzman, had visible injuries following the alleged incident. However, she was not transported to the hospital.
Responding officers to his place of residence heard “screaming coming from inside” his home and noticed the front door was opened. As they made their way in, they allegedly witnessed him grabbing his wife by the neck and throwing her against the wall.
Ozuna, who led the National League in home runs with 18 during last year’s pandemic-shortened MLB season, signed a four-year, $65 million contract with the Braves in February. It was just last week when the nine-year MLB veteran had been placed on the Braves’ injured list with two broken fingers after suffering the injuries during a slide in a recent game.
The team said it learned of the arrest Saturday and immediately alerted the MLB commissioner’s office.
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“The Braves fully support Major League Baseball’s policy on domestic violence which stresses to the fullest that our society cannot and will not tolerate domestic violence in any form,” the team said. “Until the investigation is completed, we will have no further comment and all inquiries into the matter should be referred to the Office of the Commissioner.”
