Julio Urias

Position: LHP
Born: 8/12/1996
Height: 6'2
Weight: 205
B/T: L/L
Acquired: Signed as an international free agent (Mexico) August 17, 2012 (LAD).

Most Recent Stats at Time of Debut
CURRENT SEASON STATS: 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in eight starts at Oklahoma City (Triple-A), striking out 44 while walking eight and allowing 24 hits in 41 innings.

Info & MLB Debut Date
Contract purchased from Oklahoma City May 27 when LHP Luis Avilan was sent down and RHP Yimi Garcia was shifted from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL to clear room on the 40-man roster.
MLB Debut Date: 5/27/2016

Debut Details
May 27, in a 6-5 loss to the Mets. The starting pitcher, he did not factor in the decision, allowing three runs, all earned, on five hits over 2.2 IP, walking four and striking out three while also throwing a wild pitch. After striking out the first big league batter he faced, Curtis Granderson, looking, Urias gave up a double to left field by Asdrubal Cabrera. With David Wright at the plate, Urias uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed Cabrera to move to third and, after a walk drawn by Yoenis Cespedes, Neil Walker doubled Cabrera in for the first run of the game. Juan Lagares followed with a single to center field, which scored Cespedes and Walker. Although Kevin Plawecki also singled, Eric Campbell’s line out ended the inning. In the third, with the Mets leading 3-1, Urias retired the first two batters he faced before Lagares singled and Plawecki and Campbell drew back-to-back walks, signaling the end of the night for Urias. Reliever Chris Hatcher came on and struck out opposing pitcher Jacob DeGrom swinging to end the inning and strand both runners.

Player Notes
Urias was riding a 27-inning scoreless streak at Oklahoma City when promoted to the Dodgers and, having been sent back to Oklahoma City following his debut, he has a chance to extend that before what is an inevitable return back to the big league club. The youngest player to start a game for the Dodgers since 1963, and the first teenager to do so since Fernando Valenzuela in 1980, Urias made his full-season pro debut at age 16 when he went 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA at Great Lakes (Class A) in 2013, striking out 67 batters in 54 innings over 18 starts. With tremendous control of three pitches, including a fastball in the middle 90s and a hellacious curveball as well as a changeup, he combined at four levels in 2015 (Rookie League Arizona, High A Rancho Cucamonga, Double-A Tulsa and Oklahoma City) to go 3-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 18 starts, fanning 88 while walking 22 in 80.1 IP. That season was abbreviated as he underwent elective cosmetic surgery on his left eye (three operations to remove a benign mass during his younger years had left the eye mostly closed, though the vision itself was unaffected). As a side note, he is also the first debutante this year whose last name begins with the letter “U.”

2080 Notes
Coming in at a robust No. 6 on 2080 Baseball’s Preseason Top 125 Prospect Ranking List, contributor C.J. Wittmann had this to say about Urias: “With the Dodgers’ rotation plagued by injuries in 2015, we could see the young left-hander getting a look early in the season. With his advanced command and quality stuff, Urias should have no problem stepping up to the challenge.” In addition, you can read contributor Dave DeFreitas’ scouting report on Urias here.