If all had gone well for Julio Urias, maybe he would already be an established member of the Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation.
However, everything changed for the pitching phenom when he tore the anterior capsule in his left shoulder in 2017. He threw just 73.2 innings combined over 2017 and 2018, including the Minors and 2018 postseason.
Urias hopes to make 2019 his first fully healthy season in three years and so far, so good. He made the Opening Day starting rotation after injuries to Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill. In his first start since 2017, he struck out seven in five shutout innings against the San Francisco Giants.
In many ways, Urias is right back where he started when he made his MLB debut in 2016. This time around, though, he does not feel like a rookie, per Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown:
“Because all the time rehabbing, it’s like starting from zero. The experience, pitching in the big leagues, definitely helped. And debuting so young definitely helped, too, to be where I am. … I’m not going to lie, it’s not quite like I feel like a veteran, but almost. Because it’s been four spring trainings. It’s been three years in this clubhouse with these guys and I’ve felt a lot more comfortable. What’s left is a mentality of not trying to do things to meet expectations, not trying to do too much, not trying to do too little, but just trying to do the best that I can.”
Urias became one of the Dodgers’ more dependable relievers in both the 2016 and 2018 playoffs. Additionally, Urias has proven to be more than effective on the mound when he has been healthy enough to pitch. Urias may still be young, but as he points out, he is no longer unproven.
Despite that, once Kershaw or Hill returns from the 10-day injured list, Urias is expected to be first to get bumped from the Dodgers’ rotation.
At that point he will likely be optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City or perhaps shifted into the bullpen as the Dodgers once again attempt to manage his innings limit.
