MLB Hands Down 85 Game Suspension to Phillies OF Odubel Herrera

Shocking news out of The City of Brotherly Love!

Just two short days after the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera had his domestic violence charges dropped, Major League Baseball has handed down an INTENSE punishment to the 2016 All-Star.

Per Phillies insider Jim Salibury, MLB has elected to suspend Herrera for the rest of the 2019 season, an 85 game suspension retroactive to June 24. He is at risk of missing part of the 2020 campaign, though his suspension counts towards postseason games.

Back in late May, Odubel was arrested after authorities responded to a domestic violence report at an Atlantic City hotel. As mentioned earlier, the charges were ultimately dropped, and though that conclusion came as a surprise to many, virtually nobody could have seen this hefty of a suspension coming.

His girlfriend opted to not press charges, but at the time, the league was still conducting its own investigation. And their verdict has been reached.

The Phillies released an official statement in which they supported the league's decision, also saying, "we are encouraged by Odúbel's acceptance of his discipline as an indication of his willingness to learn from this and change his behavior appropriately."

If this ruling doesn't serve as a precedent the league is trying to set regarding domestic violence, we don't know what is.

Herrera does not plan to appeal the decision and is accepting his punishment. He remains under contract with the Phillies through the 2021 season.