Randy Arozarena, Cuban Baseball Player, Released in Mérida

November 29, 2020

Cuban baseball player Randy Arozarena was released last Thursday after reaching an agreement with his ex-partner, who withdrew the complaint she had filed with the Prosecutor's Office in Mérida, in the Mexican state of Yucatán, local media reported.

Arozarena, a player for the Tampa Bay Rays, had been detained on November 24 for assaulting his ex-wife and attempting to forcibly take his daughter. A judicial process had been initiated against the outfielder in which he was accused of domestic violence and assault.

The Prosecutor's Office notified the judge that it would not pursue criminal charges against the baseball player because his ex-partner decided to withdraw the charges because, as she said, "there is no damage to claim."

According to ESPN Digital, the authorities decided to subject Arozarena's ex-partner to psychological examinations to "determine if she is fit to make that type of decision given the violence she suffered. If it is determined that she is, everything will remain as agreed; otherwise, the process against the Cuban would be reopened."

The official statement from the Oral Justice Center in Mérida, where the Cuban was detained, states that the judge informed the complainant that she could request criminal charges against Arozarena again for the crime of domestic violence if she determines so.

Last Monday, according to Yucatán Ahora, the ex-partner and the ex-father-in-law tried to prevent Arozarena from taking his daughter and the athlete ended up hitting them. The altercation, which took place in a residential area of Mérida, caught the attention of neighbors, "who came to support the family and managed to block the baseball player at a traffic light," narrated the local newspaper.

Randy Arozarena has his residence in Mérida and is a Major League player. Until October of this year, the outfielder, known as the Cuban Rocket, had set the record for home runs in a single postseason with ten home runs.