The Los Angeles Dodgers officially purchased the contract of young left-hander Julio Urias, who makes his Major League debut Friday night in a start against the New York Mets at Citi Field. He will stick with the No. 78 he wore with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
News of Urias’ expected call up surfaced on the Dodgers’ off-day, which was later followed by Luis Avilan getting optioned to OKC to clear a spot on the active roster.
The other domino fell on Friday, with Yimi Garcia getting transferred to the 60-day disabled list in order to clear room for Urias on the 40-man roster. Garcia was placed on the 15-day DL with right biceps soreness on April 23.
Garcia owns a 3.24 ERA, 2.84 FIP and 1.20 WHIP, with just four strikeouts over 8.1 innings pitched in nine games this season. Recent updates on Garcia had the right-hander still unable to throw a baseball.
As for Urias, he went 4-1 with Oklahoma City this season over eight games (seven starts). He, for now, leaves behind a Pacific Coast League-leading 1.10 ERA and 0.78 WHIP. What’s more, Urias owned a streak of 27 consecutive scoreless innings that dates back to his April 22 start.
Urias becomes the second Dodgers pitcher in as many seasons to make their MLB debut at Citi Field. In a spot start last July, Lee allowed seven runs on 11 hits in just 4.2 innings, taking the loss.
At 19 years, 289 days old on Friday, Urias becomes the youngest Dodgers starting pitcher since Dick Calmus in August 1963, and youngest reliever in franchise history since Fernando Valenzuela pitched out of the bullpen in 1980.
