With Julio Urias looking to make his Major League debut during the 2016 season, this importance this spring can’t be understated. As an 18-year-old participating in big league camp last year, Urias set the same goal for himself.
Now 19, the Urias is rated one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and was named the No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect by MLB.com.
While pitching in the Majors may seem a little farfetched for someone his age, what Urias lacks in experience he more than makes up for with a talented arm, high level of maturity and strong work ethic.
Urias made his Cactus League debut in 2014, starting one game and throwing a perfect frame, complete with two strikeouts.
He appeared in two games as a reliever last spring, tossing a combined two innings, allowing one run on three hits, walking three and striking out two.
While this spring is an important one for Urias, he may have a tough decision to make in the coming weeks. If he is offered a spot on the roster, Urias can either play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic qualifying round next month in Mexicali, or continue forward with the Dodgers.
According to Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com, Urias prefers to remain in camp, though would enjoy being part of Mexico’s national team:
“My first choice would be to be here with the Dodgers and see if there is an opportunity for me here,” Urias said in Spanish. “I prefer to be with the Dodgers. But at the same time, I would enjoy being with the Mexican team.”
The next World Baseball Classic will take place in March 2017. However, Mexico is among group of teams that still need to qualify for the tournament, and will face the Czech Republic, Germany and Nicaragua from March 17-20 in an attempt to earn a tournament berth.
Mexico is the highest-ranked baseball nation that has yet to qualify for the 2017 WBC.
