Los Angeles Dodgers young left-hander Julio Urias made his first start of the spring Tuesday afternoon, facing the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields. It was the second game of a home-and-home with the Rockies, and one Los Angeles came away victorious in.
Urias, who earned the win, allowed one run on two hits and had two strikeouts in one inning of work. Just as Clayton Kershaw did in his first start of the year, Urias continued throwing in the bullpen after his lone frame of game action.
There is still plenty unknown about what the Dodgers plan to do with the 20-year-old Urias moving forward, as they want to limit his innings with an eye on utilizing him down the stretch of the season.
The more immediate future is clear, however, as Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after Tuesday’s game that Urias would make another start on a regular turn. That puts him on track to face the Seattle Mariners on Sunday at Camelback Ranch.
While the Dodgers’ handling of Urias dating back to last season has included multiple changes and presented a challenge for all involved, Roberts praised his young hurler for how he has handled the situation.
“I think that he’s just done such a good job of really not letting things out of his control distract him. We have conversations all the time and try to make him understand that it’s not an easy situation,” Roberts said.
“He’s a special person and pitcher, so we’re really trying to be methodical in what’s best for him and what’s best for us. So that’s why I think that you guys want to know, Julio wants to know and we really want to know a decision too. But I think that we’re really trying not to act too quickly, but I think, as you see, we’re being very cautious.”
