Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers have been in camp for nine days, and the club begins their Cactus League schedule on Saturday, but in some regard Julio Urias is just getting underway at Camelback Ranch.
Urias was among the pitchers to throw their first live batting practice of Spring Training on Thursday. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Friday that Urias will take the mound in a Cactus League game next week.
Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to start Saturday, Rich Hill will follow on Sunday and Kenta Maeda gets the ball Monday.
Urias’ first look at hitters this spring meant facing Yasmani Grandal, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Justin Turner.
According to Ken Gurnick of MLB.com, the edge went to the 20-year-old left:
Julio Urias was simply overpowering pitching 2 innings of BP to Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and Yasmani Grandal.
— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) February 23, 2017
The Dodgers later followed with a video of the matchup between Seager and Urias:
.@coreyseager_5 vs. @theteenager7 during today's live batting practice. #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/YoZMdHnSr9
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) February 23, 2017
While Urias will play a key role for the Dodgers at some point this season, how that carries out has not yet been determined. He’s a candidate to remain in extended Spring Training when the Dodgers break camp, or the club may include Urias in their rotation by Opening Day, but limit his usage per start.
During time spent with Triple-A Oklahoma City and the Dodgers last season, Urias threw a combined 127.2 innings, which easily set a career high. That previously was 87.2 innings he tossed over 25 games (20 starts) with High-A Rancho Cucamonga in 2014.
