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Herrera's girlfriend declined to press charges in the domestic violence case.

Charges against Phillies' Odubel Herrera dismissed after victim drops complaint

A New Jersey judge has dismissed an assault charge against Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera in a domestic violence incident after the victim, his girlfriend, declined to pursue the case.

Odubel, 27, appeared in court Wednesday morning in Atlantic City, where he was arrested on Memorial Day after an altercation with his 20-year-old girlfriend at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. The judge said Herrera's record will be clear as long as he completes counseling within 60 days.

A police report at the time of the arrest said the woman "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."

But the woman did not want to press charges and prosecutors decided it wasn't feasible to pursue the case without her cooperation. She accompanied Herrera to the hearing Wednesday and held hands with him as they left the courthouse.

Phillies pitcher Odubel Herrera and his girlfriend leave Atlantic City Municipal court hand in hand after she declined to press charges that he assaulted her in a casino. He will get counseling for 60 days. pic.twitter.com/5FYPyWulJM
— Amy S. Rosenberg (@amysrosenberg) July 3, 2019

Major League Baseball put Herrera on paid administrative leave May 28, the day after the incident, and recently extended that leave through Friday. While Herrera has not played since then, he technically has not been suspended by MLB and could still face additional punishment from the league despite dismissal of the case.

Herrera, who is from Venezuela, was signed by the Rangers in 2008 as an international free agent at age 16. He was then acquired by the Phillies in 2014 and made his MLB debut on Opening Day 2015.

Named an All-Star in 2016, Herrera signed a five-year, $30.5 million contract extension with the team that same year.

He's struggling this season, hitting just .222 with a .629 OPS, a number that if it holds up would be the lowest of his career by more than 100 points.

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