Los Angeles Dodgers to Promote Julio Urias Friday
By Nick Fustor
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Julio Urias, one of the top prospects in baseball, will make his first MLB start on Friday night.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitching phenom Julio Urias is set to make his MLB debut Friday after it was announced by the club that Alex Wood will miss his scheduled start due to triceps soreness. Urias is only 19 years old, but has long been hailed as the Dodgers’ top prospect.
The Dodgers have been short on arms all year, as Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brett Anderson and Brandon McCarthy are all working their way back from injuries. While Clayton Kershaw has been downright dominant and Kenta Maeda has made his mark in his first season in MLB, the team is desperate for a third consistent starter.
In come Urias.
At 19 and having never pitched more than 90 innings in a season, it’s unlikely that the Dodgers will keep him in the big leagues for long, but rather they’ll have him bridge the gap for any one of their returning pitchers. It’s more than likely that Urias makes three or four starts at the big league level, then shifts to the bullpen or is sent back to the minors.
In the minors this season, Urias has proven his major league readiness. In 41 innings this season, Urias owns a stellar 1.10 ERA with 9.66 K/9 and only 1.76 BB/9, along with a 2.89 FIP. Despite his youth, Urias has shown an approach unmatched by other 19-year-olds.
Upon his arrival with the Dodgers, he’ll be the youngest player in the big leagues, displacing the Texas Rangers’ 21-year-old outfielder Nomar Mazara.
With Urias’ lethal arsenal and mature approach on the mound, the Dodgers may have a hard time keeping him out of the rotation. However, the return of their veteran pitchers will likely signal the end to his time in the big leagues sooner rather than later.
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Anderson is a reliable left-hander due back at the All-Star break, Ryu has shown flashes of brilliance in his short MLB tenure and McCarthy is a capable ground ball pitcher when healthy. In Ryu’s last rehab start, he pitched four scoreless innings while only allowing four hits. He’s expected to make two more rehab starts before rejoining the big league club, so it’s possible that Urias has two to three starts before the Dodgers have to make a tough decision.
Given the Dodgers’ relative struggles this season – despite their recent sweep over the Cincinnati Reds – the team could use a boost from a young talent.
MLB Trade Rumors notes that if Urias remains with the Dodgers the rest of the season, he’ll be a Super Two candidate heading into next season with 129 days of service time. And that’s a realistic possibility with the state of the Dodgers bullpen. While closer Kenley Jansen has been dominant, middle relievers J.P. Howell and Chris Thatcher have struggled and could leave an opening for Urias.
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For now, though, expect Urias to be tested in his first MLB start at Citi Field against the New York Mets. If he can maintain his minor league dominance, expect the Dodgers to have a tough decision going forward.