The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up pitcher Julio Urias, and he is expected to make his MLB debut Friday against the New York Mets, the team announced Thursday.
Urias will replace Alex Wood in the rotation, who will skip a start due to left triceps soreness, according to Jon Weisman of Dodger Insider.
Per Weisman, Urias, "at 19 years, 289 days old will be the youngest Major League pitcher since Felix Hernandez’s 2005 season with Seattle, the youngest Dodger pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela made his debut as a reliever in 1980 and the youngest Dodger starting pitcher since Dick Calmus on August 23, 1963."
Urias has been excellent at Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 41 innings this season. According to MLB Pipeline, he is the top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball and both the No. 2 pitcher and player overall.
He hasn't given up a run in 27 straight innings in Triple-A ball, according to Weisman.
While Urias will earn the start Friday, of MLB.com believes the team will ultimately move him to reliever this season "to limit his innings," noting that he's never exceeded 87.2 innings pitched in his previous three professional seasons.
Urias is considered the Dodgers' best pitching prospect since Clayton Kershaw, which makes his debut exciting for the organization. Moving him along slowly and not pushing his innings this season is a wise move, making his transition to the bullpen inevitable. Even in limited innings, Urias will have the chance to prove that the hype is justified and that he can be a dominant starter in the years to come.
He may also improve, at least temporarily, a starting pitching staff that has been touch-and-go behind Kershaw this season.
You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com
- Login to post comments