Braves outfielder Hector Olivera arrested, placed on leave

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

ATLANTA — Starting the season out having lost each of their first seven games, outscored 46-22 by their opponents, one would think that things could only get better for the Atlanta Braves.

They were wrong.

Braves starting left fielder Hector Olivera has been arrested following a Wednesday morning dispute with a woman at the team's Ritz Carlton Hotel in Arlington, Virginia, according to WJLA/ABC7 News.

The female victim, who was transported to Virginia Hospital Center, contacted 911 at 6:51 a.m., alleging that she had been assaulted by Olivera. Per reports, the woman had "visible bruises" at the time of being transferred.

Jeff Goldberg of WJLA writes:

Sources say Olivera will make his first appearance in front of a judge Wednesday afternoon and will likely be charged with misdemeanor assault and battery.

Sources also say Olivera is not an American citizen, but since he is from Cuba, Olivera's immigration status should not be in question.

Police say Olivera and the female victim are known to one another. Details of their relationship are unknown at this time.

Upon arrival to the hotel, the Arlington Police Department immediately took Olivera into custody. The Cuban outfielder has yet to be formally charged, although in conjunction with its investigation of the incident, Major League Baseball has placed Olivera on administrative leave.

He will be inactive Wednesday evening as the Braves face the Washington Nationals in the third of a four-game series at Nationals Park. Shortstop Daniel Castro has been recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill Olivera's void on the roster.

Olivera, 31, was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of a three-team, 12-player trade on July 30 of last season. His transcontinental trade to the Braves came approximately 130 days after he agreed to a six-year, $62.5 million contract with the Dodgers on March 24, 2015, as he defected from Cuba to the Dominican Republic to wait for a United States work visa.

In 3,269 plate appearances over 10 seasons in the Cuban National Series from 2003-2011 and 2013, Olivera hit .323/.407/.505 with 96 home runs and 433 runs-batted-in. Spanning 30 Major League games, however, he only produced two home runs and 13 runs-batted-in with a .245/.296/.378 slash line.