The lefty lasted 6 innings for the first time in 2016 and just the 7th
time in his minor league career
Unless
you just don’t follow baseball that closely, you’ve probably at least heard of
Julio Urias, the pride of the Dodgers system (at least now that Corey Seager has
graduated). Urias, still just 19 and a lefty, is considered one of the top
starting pitching prospect in the minors, if not the best, and he’s already
crushing it in AAA. His Oklahoma City Dodgers hosted the New Orleans Zephyrs
Wednesday morning, and Urias was on top of his game, allowing 0 hits while facing
the minimum with 6 K's over 6 innings. The one baserunner he did allow came on an E6
behind him, but Urias picked that runner off instead of dealing with the next
batter.
Before
we take a look at some GIF’s from this start, let’s review what Urias throws.
Per Baseball America’s 2016 Prospect
Guidebook, Urias sits 90-95 with his fastball, topping at 97 MPH. He also
mixes in a changeup that projects to be a plus pitch, and a curveball that he
can manipulate. On top of the plus stuff, he keeps the ball hidden well during
his motion and will change arm angles without losing effectiveness.
Julio Urias - 6 IP, 0 H, 6 K (4 K/Sw), 6 GB: 3 LD: 2 PU, 77
Pitches (52 Strikes), 5 Swinging, 22 Called, 6.5% SwStr, 16.7% Whiff/Swing,
12.8 Pitches/IP, 18 BF
Table 1 – Urias pitch stats by inning
1st
|
2nd
|
3rd
|
4th
|
5th
|
6th
|
Total
|
|
Total
|
16
|
11
|
13
|
13
|
11
|
13
|
77
|
Strikes
|
10
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
7
|
8
|
52
|
Swinging*
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
*6.5% Swinging strike rate; 16.7% Whiff/Swing
1st inning
Urias
was rarely behind Wednesday night, but he fell behind 3-1 to the first batter
of the game, and Kenny Wilson lined out to deepish left field. Robert Andino
was up next, and the count went to 2-2 before Urias ended the AB with his first
strikeout of the game.
Urias
ended the frame with by striking out Destin Hood on this pitch in the dirt.
2nd inning
His
streak reached 3 straight K’s when Dan Black went down looking to start the
inning.
He’d
need just 6 more pitches to finish the frame, retiring Isaac Galloway and Matt
Juengel on grounders to his middle infielders.
3rd inning
Tomas Telis made solid contact on the
first pitch from Urias in the 3rd inning, but it went for a line out
to LF. Elliot Soto was up next, and he’d make Urias work for 8 pitches, but
ultimately took a 3-2 pitch for strike 3 (wasn't shown).
Urias
then turned his attention to the opposing pitcher, striking out Paul Clemens on
4 pitches to end the frame.
4th inning
There
were no strikeouts from Urias in the 4th inning, but it was a quick
and strong inning for the stud. He induced a pair of grounders to the right
side and a pop out.
5th inning
Urias
got similar results in the 5th inning – the grounders were hit to
his shortstop this inning – but New Orleans picked up their first baserunner on
an E6 to start the frame. I guess Urias didn’t want to face more batters than
necessary though, because after the Dodgers failed to convert a double play to
end the frame, he went to work on the baserunner. It took 4 throws, but Urias
finally did pickoff Matt Juengel to end the frame.
6th inning
Urias
kept the ball on the infield again in the 6th while adding his final
K of the game. Telis lined out to 1B, Soto hit a groundout to shortstop, and
then Austin Nola came up for his first AB of the game. I’m guessing Nola wishes
that AB came in the 7th, because Urias made quick work of him to end
his start in style, striking him out on this 1-2 pitch.
Alan Shepard's Mercury flight 55 yrs ago today was 1st step on the long #JourneyToMars: https://t.co/BDyTyJI3wW #TBT pic.twitter.com/O2jZ936NU4— NASA (@NASA) May 5, 2016
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