One of the most coveted left-handed pitching prospects in recent years – and arguably the top pitching prospect in the Minors heading into 2016 – will make his MLB debut this Friday. It’s no other than teenager Julio Urias, a 19-year-old Mexican lefty who will start for Los Angeles Dodgers against the New York Mets.
Urias will be the second teenager to start a game this century after Felix Hernandez debuted with the Seattle Mariners in 2005. He will be the first pitcher under 20 years of age who starts for the Dodgers since fellow Mexican lefty Fernando Valenzuela did it in 1980.
Urias has dazzled in Triple-A this season, going 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in 40 innings. He’s also recorded 44 strikeouts and eight walks in those 40 frames, so he has lots of control while showing heat with his throws. He can reach 97 mph with a fastball that often sits between 91 and 94 mph, and he can throw it for strikes on both sides of the plate. He also has deception in his heater to go along with a big-breaking curveball and a fading changeup. He can throw all three pitches for strikes.
Even though he sounds like the next big thing in baseball, it’s hard to envision a scenario where the Dodgers keep Urias for the rest of the season. They already gained an extra year of control, but the rotation will be pretty much set once Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder) and Brandon McCarthy (Tommy John surgery) return from their injuries. Los Angeles also has Alex Wood – who’s been given an extra day off, hence Urias’ start – to go along with Kenta Maeda and Clayton Kershaw so there might not be enough space for him down the road.
Julio Urias, however, is good enough to force manager Dave Roberts to keep him with the big league club. He has nothing more to show at the Triple-A level, and he would benefit greatly if he can get some experience pitching at the MLB level before he’s 20 years old. History suggests otherwise, however, as the current Dodgers Baseball President of Operations is Andrew Friedman, and he was the one who promoted the likes of David Price and Chris Archer for a short period of time before leaving them up for good a year later.
Urias will have to face a potent lineup that includes the likes of Curtis Granderson, Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto. It will be a tough challenge, but the 19-year-old has already proven he can compete with the best of them. And Friday shouldn’t be any different.