When it comes to Los Angeles Dodgers top pitching prospect Julio Urias, the sky is the limit for the young southpaw. The front office has carefully managed the 19 year old since he was signed out of Mexico shortly after his 16th birthday.
Urias quickly ascended the Minor League ranks, and began this season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He finished 2015 with OKC and struggled in two starts, but has since righted the ship and dominated competition much older than him.
With the Dodgers needing to shuffle their rotation due to injury, Urias was called up last week to make his long-anticipated Major League debut.
He predictably battled some command issues, walked four batters and allowed three runs on five hits in just 2.2 innings pitched. After the outing, Urias admitted to feeling the pregame jitters, but said the experience was the best day of his life.
Urias was optioned back to the Minors the following day, though has since returned with Alex Wood landing on the disabled list with a posterior impingement in his left elbow.
Urias’ joining the Dodgers prompted Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports to share Zack Greinke’s glowing remarks on the young lefty:
Former #Dodgers RHP Zack Greinke described Julio Urias to me this spring as “the most perfect pitching prospect I’ve ever seen.” 1/2
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2016
I asked Greinke why. He said: 1. Urias is left-handed. 2. Stuff is plus-plus. 3. “He’s nasty, but not so nasty you think he’ll blow out.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) May 26, 2016
During his time with the Dodgers, Greinke was known to have a strong interest in the club’s prospects and draft proceedings. It wasn’t uncommon for Greinke to engage in conversations over young talent in the farm system, and what a specific player brings to the table.
Through two starts with the Dodgers, Urias has thrown a combined 7.2 innings and owns a 9.39 ERA. It’s currently unclear if he will remain in the starting rotation moving forward.
