Phillies’ Odubel Herrera arrested for domestic assault

PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 15: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUGUST 15: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on during the game against the Boston Red Sox at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty images)

The struggles of Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera continued on his off day off the field. He was arrested in Atlantic City in a domestic violence matter.

Odubel Herrera, the flaky but talented Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder, was arrested last night in Atlantic City and charged with simple assault following an incident with his 20-year-old girlfriend. Today, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com is reporting that the outfielder has been placed “on administrative leave, pursuant to Major League Baseball’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.”

The incident leading to the player’s arrest apparently took place at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino in the famous New Jersey beach and gambling destination.

According to Jim Salisbury and Cory Seidman of NBCSports.com 21 minutes before noon May 28, the police report indicated that the unnamed victim of the alleged attack “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.”

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The time of the incident was apparently shortly before 8:30 p.m. Monday night, according to an ESPN.com report. The victim of the assault, as identified by police, refused medical treatment.

Herrera was issued a summons “for a future court date,” which was not specified in the Salisbury-Seidman report. The writers suggested Herrera was facing possible “swift discipline” by MLB officials. Less than an hour later Zolecki reported the suspension. The Phillies had reported the incident to MLB.

Fairly quickly, observant Phillies fans took notice. A friend texted, “Odubel arrested for beating his girlfriend.” I replied it didn’t seem to be beating as such, which was not meant to suggest “roughing up” a girlfriend short of a beating is in any way acceptable. Of course, new physical details about the bruises observed by the police may emerge.

Odubel Herrera had been struggling this season, hitting only .222 with a dreadful .288 OBP. Recently, he had been replaced in center field for four, scattered games by Scott Kingery. Herrera will have at least seven days on administrative leave to contemplate that and a few other matters while MLB investigates his evening in AC.