Heading into the 2018 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers figure to once again boast one of the Majors’ best starting rotations, headlined by ace Clayton Kershaw and fellow southpaws Rich Hill and Alex Wood.
Rounding out the back end is a plethora of depth that include the likes of top prospect Walker Buehler, Kenta Maeda, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brock Stewart and Ross Stripling.
Potentially joining the mix down the road is Julio Urias, who saw his 2017 campaign cut short after undergoing surgery to repair a torn anterior capsule in his left shoulder last June.
Urias’ initial timetable for a full recovery was 12-14 months, which would line him up for a return to the mound later this summer. While speaking to reporters at Dodgers FanFest, the 21-year-old revealed that he’s close to resuming baseball-related activities.
“Very good, I feel very healthy,” Urias said through a translator. “I’m at a point where I’m going to start throwing very soon, so truthfully I feel very good.”
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi confirmed at Dodgers FanFest that Urias would begin a throwing program soon, but wouldn’t elaborate on a specific timeline for his return.
“He’s gonna start throwing soon and hasn’t had any setbacks,” Zaidi said. But obviously, until you start getting on the mound and really start getting some game activity, those are some real hurdles to clear and those are still pretty far down the road.”
In just 23.1 innings (five starts) last season with the Dodgers, Urias compiled a 5.40 ERA, 4.70 FIP and 1.59 WHIP with 11 strikeouts to 14 walks — noticeably lacking the command he displayed during his rookie campaign.
A healthy Urias during the second half of the season would further strengthen the Dodgers’ depth and give them an intriguing option during the stretch run. Whether that’s in the starting rotation or out of the bullpen.
Prior to his injury, Urias posted terrific numbers during his inaugural season, including a 5-2 record with a 3.39 ERA, 3.17 FIP and 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
