It’s full-go for the first time for veteran pitcher Julio Urías
by Cary Osborne
Is this the breakout year?
Ever since 2013, when Julio Urías was 16 years old and mowing down hitters six years older than him on average in his first pro season, the left-handed pitcher set a high level of expectation.
But load management on his young arm, a devastating shoulder injury, depth and needs of the team have played roles in limiting his Major League innings. However, the 2020 season appears to be his greatest opportunity to make an impact on the Dodgers.
Urías, still only 23 years old, will challenge for a spot in the starting rotation — again — but the limitations of the past are now gone. Urías, who has never surpassed 87 2/3 innings (2014) in a professional season, will no longer be restricted.
“We’ve obviously had the reins on him for his benefit,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He’s taken it in stride. It’s frustrating I’m sure at times, but now we can be a lot more liberal. What that means right now as far as innings, I don’t know. But yeah, certainly, he’s a full (go).”
Since he made his Major League debut on May 27, 2016, at 19 years old, Urías has moved back and forth from the starting rotation to the bullpen. He has appeared in 63 Major League games, 28 as a starter. Twenty of those 28 starts were in 2016 and 2017. He made five starts in 2017 before a left shoulder injury required surgery that would eventually keep him out of Major League action for 16 months.
He said he feels far away from the shoulder surgery.
Urías began 2019 in the Dodger starting rotation, a need with Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill starting the season on the injured list, and stayed for three weeks. But of his 37 appearances in 2019, 29 were out of the bullpen. Urías’ overall numbers out of the bullpen were stellar — a 2.01 ERA and opponents slashed .186/.275/.271/.546 against him.
As a starter, he had a 3.26 ERA and opponents slashed .224/.286/.405/.691.
Urías led the Majors, according to Statcast, in lowest average exit velocity at 83.2 mph. He had the eight-lowest average hard-hit percentage at 24.9%.
Urías remains steadfast in his comments about starting vs. relieving, saying that he has no preference and is willing to help the team wherever it has a need. But he acknowledges that something is enticing about being a starting pitcher.
“I always liked starting when I was a kid when I was playing in tournaments representing Mexico, or when the Dodgers first scouted me,” Urías said through a translator. “Being in this situation when you have a guy like Clayton Kershaw and now you have a guy like David Price that comes from another team and you see how they prepare and the way they go about their work to be ready for every fifth day, it almost injects you with this new passion of wanting to be a starter and wanting to take the ball every fifth day.
“But if they need me to be a reliever and be ready to pitch out of the bullpen I’ll be ready for that, too. It’s just trying to help and contribute to the team any way I can.”
The Dodgers have the luxury of choice with Urías because of depth. Beyond the trio of Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Price, Alex Wood, Jimmy Nelson, Ross Stripling, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin are vying for starting pitching roles.
Urías came into 2020 Spring Training Camp visibly lighter, acknowledging the weight loss but saying he doesn’t know exactly how much weight he has lost. Roberts took notice.
“I’m excited for him in this opportunity that he’s earned,” Roberts said. “The challenge for Julio is to sustain it all year long. That’s where the maturity has to come into play and the weight room. (But) the (results) on the field matters. The consistency is something we’re looking for from him.”
Said Urías: “Maybe it is the year for me. But you also have to let the personal side off to the side and think about the team and try and reach that goal we’ve always set out to achieve.”
Quick Hits:
- Tony Gonsolin will start the Dodgers’ first Cactus League game Saturday at San Francisco. Dave Roberts said Gonsolin will probably go an inning or two and will be built up as a starter this spring. Alex Wood will start the Cactus League home opener Sunday.
- Roberts said he has an idea who the starter will be for Opening Day, but it hasn’t been announced.
- Jimmy Nelson (lower back/groin) returned to the mound Thursday, throwing a 15-pitch bullpen session.
