Julio Urías continued his ascension into one of the top starting pitchers in baseball with another strong campaign in 2022. After separating himself as the Majors’ only 20-game winner last year, Urías emerged as the ace of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitching staff while Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw dealt with injuries.
Urías went 17-7 with a National League-best 2.16 ERA, 3.71 FIP and 0.96 WHIP in 175 innings over 31 starts this year. The left-hander additionally led the National League in ERA and ERA+ (194) while posting the lowest batting average against (.199) and WHIP among 2022 NL Cy Young Award finalists.
Despite those strong numbers, Urías finished third in the race, which went to Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcántara. The 26-year-old was also snubbed for the All-Star Game but won the 2022 Warren Spahn Award and earned All-MLB honors by being selected to the Second Team.
During an interview with Alanna Rizzo on MLB Network’s “High Heat,” Clayton Kershaw opined that Urías isn’t getting the recognition he deserves around the league:
“Julio is the man. I do think he gets overlooked, and I don’t really know why. He did finish [third] in Cy Young voting this year, so I think you’re starting to see people understand just how good he is. He’s been a cornerstone for us. He’s just kind of been there, taking the ball every fifth day, go out there and dominate. I think we have restricted his innings and pitches, and that’s not his fault. That’s just on the organization and what they decided to do. He’s obviously an ace.”
Kershaw’s sentiment is one that is shared by many players and coaches in the Dodgers clubhouse. Manager Dave Roberts previously expressed his belief Urías is generally overlooked across baseball.
“Last year I thought he was slighted as far as not being part of the conversation,” Roberts said in September of the Cy Young Award race. “This year, he’s back with another really good year. With all the numbers guys look at, with what he’s done this season, it’s worthy of the conversation. No doubt about it.
“I think Julio has been throwing the baseball as well as anybody in baseball since the (All-Star) break. Or even before the break, actually. I certainly don’t have a vote, but it’s hard to ignore what this guy does for a championship-caliber ballclub.
“He wasn’t an All-Star this year for some ridiculous reason, so to be able to be in that Cy Young conversation, I think that’s the floor.”
Austin Barnes: Julio Urías ‘a special talent’ & ‘even better teammate’
Austin Barnes rose through the Dodgers farm system with Urías and recently praised him for being a special talent and teammate.
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