After a dominant postseason in which he recorded the final out of the World Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Julio Urias was ranked No. 7 on MLB Network’s list of 2020 breakout players.
Ahead of the left-hander are Teoscar Hernandez (No. 6), Kenta Maeda, Ian Anderson, Kyle Lewis, Randy Arozarena and Devin Williams (No. 1).
Urias tossed 2.1 perfect innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the World Series to help solidify the Dodgers’ first World Series title since 1988. In six total playoff appearances (two starts), he went a perfect 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.65 WHIP across 23 frames, allowing just three runs while striking out an impressive 29 batters.
Before the month of October began, Urias mostly contributed out of the starting rotation. All but one of his regular season outings came as a starter, going 3-0 with a 3.27 ERA, 3.72 FIP and 1.15 WHIP over 55 innings pitched, striking out 45 batters against 18 walks.
Who will be #1??? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/zMgTci96ch
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 3, 2021
The 2020 season marked Urias’ first without an innings limit. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised him for being patient and keeping his trust in the organization.
“No. 1, Julio’s openness to trust the organization and what’s best for his career and for us as an organization to really do what was best for him,” Roberts said last month. “You can debate whether we were too careful with him, if we didn’t push him enough.
“I appreciate Julio is going to have a great career and I do think the foundation of taking care of him in his early years to allow him to go forward and have a great career, I think that’s a part of it.
“That’s not easy for an organization to do. I just appreciates he understands whatever did was the best thing for him and his career.”
Urias honored by comparisons, but ‘there will only be one’ Fernando Valenzuela
Growing up in Mexico, Urias was a big Dodgers fan and idolized Fernando Valenzuela. The two have been compared to each other on many occasions, given their similar repertoires and windups, and the fact that both throw left-handed.
While Urias is honored by the comparisons, he said shortly after the World Series that there will only be one Valenzuela.
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