During the time the Los Angeles Dodgers have claimed three consecutive National League West divisional titles, management and the front office has simultaneously focused on replenishing the organization’s once-proud farm system.
Los Angeles has already reaped some benefits in clinging onto their top prospects, with Joc Pederson and Corey Seager playing a significant role on the Major League roster. Behind the two, the Dodgers have a laundry list of talented prospects that’s led to their farm system being rated No. 1 overall by Baseball America.
Headlining the next wave of prospects expected to make an impact for the Dodgers within the next season or two are pitchers Jose De Leon and Julio Urias. While both hurlers have garnered plenty of attention, they come from vastly different backgrounds.
Urias was a can’t-miss prospect when the Dodgers signed him out of Mexico as a teenager, while De Leon was selected in the 24th round of the 2013 draft. Urias is ranked the top left-handed prospect by MLB Pipeline, and De Leon the fifth-best right-handed pitcher.
Together, De Leon and Urias make up the No. 2 duo in the Minors, according to
Jonathan Mayo of MLB Pipeline:
Urias has had one very good and one not so good start in the Pacific Coast League at the start of the year, but it would shock no one to see the left-hander pitch his way to Los Angeles before his 20th birthday in August. De Leon will be back soon from his ankle injury, giving Oklahoma City the best 1-2 rotation punch in the Minors.
De Leon is nursing a minor ankle injury and has yet to join the Triple-A Oklahoma City rotation this season. Urias threw five shutout innings in his first start of 2016, allowing four hits and collecting nine strikeouts.
He then struggled a bit in his second outing, allowing four runs and two home runs. On Friday, the talented lefty retired the first 11 batters faced and finished with eight strikeouts, while allowing just one run in five innings.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke highly of the two young pitchers during Spring Training, believing De Leon and Urias gained valuable experience during their time in big league camp.
