The Los Angeles Dodgers are no stranger to young star power. Julio Urias, however, has had a bumpier road than most other former top prospects.
Urias missed most of 2017 and 2018 after he tore his left anterior shoulder capsule and was forced to undergo major surgery. He has been embroiled in off-field controversy this season, with Major League Baseball suspending him 20 games under their domestic violence policy after he allegedly shoved a female companion in a public parking lot in May.
He returns from his suspension Tuesday, starting against the Colorado Rockies in place of Kenta Maeda, who has been demoted to the bullpen to prepare for his expected role as a key postseason reliever.
The lineup behind Urias features three other current or former top Dodgers prospects.
Most notably, current top prospect Gavin Lux leads off following a historically successful MLB debut on Monday. Lux got hit in each of his first two at-bats, and also scored three runs, marking the first time a player scored thrice in his first Major League game according to STATS LLC.
The young second baseman is joined in the middle infield by shortstop Corey Seager, another former blue-chip prospect. Seager has been inconsistent in his first full season back from Tommy John Surgery, but whacked a three-run home run during Monday’s 16-9 blowout of the Rockies.
Cody Bellinger, arguably the most successful of any recent top Dodgers prospect, bats cleanup and starts in center. Bellinger is at the center of one of the most compelling home run and MVP races in recent history alongside defending National League MVP Christian Yelich.
While they appear to be at the forefront of the NL MVP chase, Bellinger currently leads all players with 44 home runs. Yelich is tied with Pete Alonso and Mike Trout for second with 43.
Bellinger will be seeing more time in center field down the stretch as the Dodgers prepare for the return of Alex Verdugo. While that was his primary position last year, this season Bellinger has mainly played right field. He has also seen time at first base, where he won Rookie Of The Year in 2017.
Dodgers Lineup:
2B: Gavin Lux
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: A.J. Pollock
1B: Matt Beaty
RF: Kiké Hernandez
C: Russell Martin
P: Julio Urias
Rockies Lineup:
SS: Trevor Story
RF: Charlie Blackmon
3B: Nolan Arenado
1B: Daniel Murphy
LF: Ian Desmond
2B: Ryan McMahon
CF: Garrett Hampson
C: Tony Wolters
P: Chi Chi Gonzalez
