Four years ago, members of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office took a trip down to Mexico. A Cuban outfielder named Yasiel Puig had defected and was holding a workout. While on the trip, the Dodgers contingent decided to stop by a Mexican League showcase. On the hill was a 15-year-old lefty named Julio Urias.
Then-Dodgers’ Scouting Director Logan White and legendary scout Mike Brito were impressed. Two months later, the Dodgers signed Urias. Not much was expected of the young left-hander when he was signed.
Baseball America had ranked the Top 30 International Prospects for the year and Urias’ name was not among them. But his name appeared on another list unexpectedly: the 2013 Low-A Great Lakes Loons’ roster.
Urias was just 16 years old playing in full-season ball. This is a phenomenon that simply doesn’t occur often. While the thought of a player that young competing in A-ball was exciting, expectations had to be tempered. But then Urias pitched.
Against much older competition, Urias was a man amongst boys. In 54.1 innings during his debut season, he racked up 67 strikeouts and maintained a 2.48 ERA. The next year, Urias went to High-A Rancho Cucamonga at 17 years of age and continued to dominate. In 2015, it was more of the same in Double-A.
Then the 2016 season rolled around. While Urias’ body may not have been ready for the rigors of the Majors, his stuff certainly was. In 41 innings with Triple-A Oklahoma City, Urias surrendered just five runs (four in one game) while striking out 44.
Riding a 27-inning scoreless streak, the Dodgers called up the 19-year-old southpaw to make his Major League debut in New York against the Mets. It didn’t go as planned. Urias’ control evaded him as he walked four batters and luck wasn’t on his side, either. He ended up allowing three runs and nine baserunners in 2.2 innings.
Urias’ next test wasn’t any easier, as faced the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. It was another rough outing, with Urias allowing six runs (five earned) and three home runs in five innings. It appeared the Dodgers had been too ambitious.
But Urias fought back. He strung together five straight outings allowing two runs or fewer. However, a five-run outing against the Baltimore Orioles on July 4 led to his return to Triple-A.
Urias back soon after, making a spot start against the Washington Nationals. He outdueled the undefeated Stephen Strasburg for four innings before, again, heading to the Minors.
After two more games with Oklahoma City, Urias was up with the Dodgers for good. In the end, he posted a 3.39 ERA in 77 innings with them. Urias led the Majors with six pickoffs, placed ninth with a 3.02 FIP (min. 60 innings as a starter) and finished fourth on the team with a 1.8 fWAR.
2016 Highlight
While reaching the Majors is certainly a monumental benchmark for Urias, that was expected to take place this season. What wasn’t forecasted was Urias starting in a postseason game.
After pitching in relief and earning a win in the decided Game 5 of the National League Division Series, Urias started against the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series. He struggled a bit, allowing four runs on four hits in 3.2 innings.
2017 Outlook
While the Dodgers have an abundance of starting pitchers heading into next season, Urias figures to be one of the best of the bunch.
He saw a significant increase in his workload from 2015 to 2016, from 80.1 to 127.2 innings (including the playoffs), and could be on pace to pitch 150 in 2017. Expect Urias to begin and finish the year in the Dodgers’ rotation.
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