Julio Urias Set To Start In Double-A, Discusses Expectations by Vincent Samperio | Dodgers Nation -- 2 hours ago It’s been a few years since a left-hander in the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system created a buzz like Julio Urias. The last one to do so was Clayton Kershaw, who went from top prospect to top pitcher in all of baseball. Urias is a teenage sensation that was signed out of Mexico, and he has had strong numbers at all levels. According to Mark Cooper of Tulsa World, the left-hander will begin the year in a higher league: Mark Cooper @mark_cooperjr Just heard Drillers manager Razor Shines tell @BuzzTulsa that Julio Urias is likely to start the year in Tulsa. That'll be fun! 2:19 PM - 26 Jan 2015 Urias spent last season in High-A with the Ranco Cucamonga Quakes, where he had a 2.36 ERA in 87.2 innings as a 17-year-old. The Dodgers have been monitoring his innings since he began, and it will be no different this season. Urias will likely get some work as a reliever once his innings get too high this year. The 18-year-old has often been compared to another Mexican pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fernando Valenzuela. He discussed the comparison with Carlos Molina of MLB.com’s Spanish site (translated): "It’s nice to be compared to the best Mexican pitcher of all time, but my goal is to work hard to make my own name.” Urias will be with the Dodgers this spring, along with fellow top prospect Corey Seager. It will be his first extended time with the big league club, although he did make an appearance last spring when he threw an inning against the San Diego Padres. Reflecting on that inning, Urias talks about what that meant to him and said he expects to start the year in Double-A (translated): "That outing was special. It gave me a lot of confidence. I knew I just had to be myself, not try to do more than I’m capable of and thank God everything came out well.” It may be a few years until Urias reaches the big leagues, but it appears that the Dodgers could have another special left-hander.
Slow and steady being a good thing for his youthful arm... A mans frame and musculature change massively between 17 and 19 or 20... boy to man kind of stuff. If he's looking this good as a boy well I'm willing to use a little patience... let's hope the new Dodger regime thinks likewise
I wonder if has ever been hit by a batted ball because of that eye and whether or not it is a cause for concern in the FO. We have McCarthy who was hit in the head with 2 good eyes. It's also remarkable that he's as good as he is.
Actually his eye is what caused so many teams to ignore him. In fact I remember when we signed him it wasn't as big a deal as some of our other IFA's.
He should just throw a patch on that eye..if his curve continues to improve we can call him Captain Hook
I thought that the eye was simply a badly timed photo... ... well shit that'll teach me to give the benefit of the doubt
I have high hopes for this kid. One of the things the big scouts always say that is a drawback is that he is only 5'11" and that will hamper him. Yet I've talked to 4 different people that work(ed) for or write about the Dodgers and each has said within the last year that he is at least 6'1". So that is one thing I just want to be out there. Anyway, this kid is showing some serious work ethic early in his career as the other thing scouts liked to complain about was his weight. Well he's lost 20 lbs in the off season and hired a nutritionist. This kid takes the game very seriously, I hope he is truly something special.
Really good to hear. An 18 year old kid going in and giving a fuck about a job that's so high pressure is awesome. Seriously hope he pans out.
some of these scouts love nothing more than to be naysayers and contrarians they're like the hipsters of scouting lol i remember another guy who was 5'11" didn't seem to hamper him too much...
I remember in AP Spanish we had to read and give summaries of passages from a book. I chose one about Clemente and was shocked as all hell that he was in the Dodgers system.
back on topic... A.J. Ellis impressed with Julio Urias Dodgers Nation | 2 hours ago While most 18-year-olds are deciding which college to go attend, Julio Urias is concerned with much different issues. Urias, the Los Angeles Dodgers top pitching prospect, is working to become a Major League pitcher as a teenager. He is currently in camp with the Dodgers as a non-roster invitee and had his first bullpen session this past week, showing characteristics of maturity and poise. Dodgers catcher A.J Ellis caught the bullpen and was impressed by his growth and skills, according to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times: "I’d like to know how old he really is because there’s no way a kid 18 years old can have that type of composure,” Ellis joked. “That’s what was most impressive to me, his tempo, his ability to stay in the moment..." Ellis was also impressed at the fact that Urias was consistent throughout his entire bullpen session: "Most guys you catch who are in their first big-league camp, they’re throwing 100 mph because of the adrenaline. I’ve caught guys in the past who, when they miss their spot, try to do more the next time. He just stayed the same the whole time. He has the confidence and the composure of a seasoned veteran guy.” Urias is the youngest player in camp and has already spent two years in the Minor Leagues after being signed as a 16-year-old. In 2014, he pitched for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at 17, finishing with a 2.36 ERA in 25 games (20 starts). In 87.2 innings, the left-hander struck out 109 batters. With the season around the corner, Urias has high hopes of being able to reach the big leagues this season and with the way his career has started, it wouldn’t be far-fetched.
Felix Hernandez Keeping Eye On Julio Urias This Spring by Vincent Samperio | Dodgers Nation — 1 hour ago There’s some hype surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch, and it’s not just about those players that look to defend their NL West title. Top prospects Corey Seager and Julio Urias were invited to camp, giving the spring a preview of what could be in Los Angeles. While Seager is considered the team’s overall top prospect, Urias is the one drawing the hype early on in camp because of his age and composure. A.J. Ellis recently caught a bullpen from the left-hander, coming away impressed. According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, there’s a former American League Cy Young winner that will have his eye in Dodgers camp: “I’m going to watch him in spring training,” Hernandez, the 2010 American League Cy Young Award winner, told me this week. Hernandez is the last teenager to start a game in the Majors, making his debut at the age of 19 in 2005. The Mariners ace is now a 10-year veteran and a perennial Cy Young candidate. Urias is currently 18 and won’t turn 19 until August, but Dodgers management have expressed that the plan is for the teenager to remain in the minors this season. Stranger things have happened, and if needed, the Dodgers would have to consider bringing up Urias this season. He’s faced Major League hitters just once, tossing a scoreless inning last spring against the San Diego Padres. While Urias has yet to garner any comparisons to Hernandez, he has been compared to another Mexican teenager that pitched for the Dodgers: Fernando Valenzuela. Back in 1980, the then 19-year-old started his career out of the bullpen before winning Cy Young and Rookie of the Year in 1981. The Dodgers can only hope that Urias can follow a similar path. Whether he reaches the big leagues this season, it’s exciting to think of Urias pitching at Dodger Stadium.
