Los Angeles Dodgers: Julio Urias Remains a Starter
By Ron Juckett
After two shaky outings, the Los Angeles Dodgers say Julio Urias will start again Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
Los Angeles Dodgers super prospect Julio Urias will remain in the starting rotation.
Ranked No. 2 overall on the MLB.com Top 30 prospect list, Urias gets the ball again Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium against the Colorado Rockies.
Urias, who owned the Pacific Coast League for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, struggled through his first two major league starts. Facing the defending National League champion New York Mets and the best team in baseball in the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, he lost one and has yet to pitch past the fourth inning.
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In his eight Triple-A starts, Urias dominated, going 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA. In 41 innings, he fanned 44, walking eight and has a WHIP of 0.780. Not bad for a 19-year-old phenom who pitched in Rookie League ball last year. His development and potential are off the charts.
That has yet to translate in the big leagues. When pulled from his start at Citi Field against the Mets, Urias looked relieved, eagerly flipping the ball to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. More composed in Chicago, he looked lost as the stuff he used to fool minor leaguers did anything but now.
His next assignment should be easier. In front of what is expected to be a large and friendly crowd, Urias faces a Rockies team with an Adjusted OPS+ of 94 in a pitcher’s ballpark. With all the pressure of being a highly touted kid from Mexico pitching for the first time on the same mound that national hero Fernando Valenzuela graced, every start will bring butterflies for now.
The raw numbers are not good. A horrible loss to the Mets and a no-decision against the Cubs has him at 0-1 with a 9.39 ERA. In 7.2 eventful innings, he surrendered 13 hits, eight earned runs, three homers and five walks. Despite fooling no one, he has fanned seven.
Urias and the Dodgers find themselves in an odd place. He has nothing else to gain going back to Oklahoma City at this point. The numbers are too strong to get any more instruction down there for now. Yet, he is not big league ready; a “Quad-A” pitcher, if you will.
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As long as Roberts and the front office see improvement every five days, Urias will take the ball and try to learn from his mistakes. It may take another run in OKC to seal the deal, but for now on-the-job training is the way to go. As long as Alex Wood is injured, Urias is their best option.