Dodgers: Julio Urias Enjoyed Bullpen Role in 2019, Open to Any Role in 2020
Julio Urías was once the consensus top prospect in all of Major League Baseball and now, he almost gets lost in the mix when we discuss the Dodgers’ best young players. Somehow, he is still just 23 years of age. Yes, he came up at 19, but he still has so much career left. He seems to have overcome a major surgery/injury and is now poised to be in the 2020 rotation for at least some portion of the season.
Julio Urías spoke through a translator at Dodgers FanFest last week about his potential 2020 role and how he enjoyed the 2019 season that saw him spend most of his time in the bullpen:
Urías was asked about his off-season and what he focused on this winter.
“It was the same as every other off-season. I’m trying to come in as ready as possible in Spring Training and take on whatever responsibility the team gives me.”
The left-hander was also asked about what he expects his role to be in 2020 and this was his response.
[adace-ad id=”118954″]“Like I have always said, I just wanted to come out of the off-season to be ready for however they need me.”
When asked about his role at the end of last season, he was honest while also toeing the company line.
“It was a little bit complicated but I wasn’t sure what I was doing, but like I said, I am always ready for whatever responsibility they give me and at the end of the season, I started liking pitching out of the bullpen. I will once again be ready for whatever they ask me to do.”
Urías being content pitching out of the bullpen could be a huge boon for the Dodgers in 2020 and going forward. He has the potential to be one of the best relievers in baseball.
Overall
Julio Urías will be one of the biggest pieces to the puzzle for the Dodgers in 2020 and will be a key member of the club in the future. Whether that is in the bullpen or the rotation remains to be seen, but he will likely receive time in both roles this season.
NEXT: A Look at the Dodgers’ Upgraded Pitching Depth
Urias might be better off migrating to the closer end of the rotation, rather than the starter end. May and Gonsolin will most likely alternate after Buehler, Kershaw, Maeda, and Wood. Aquisition of a frontline veteran starter will push him farther into the bullpen, or to another team in the trade process.
Leave it to the Dodgers to take a talent like Urias and make him a reliever. Like he said, ‘little bit confused’ at to his role last year. This is vintage Dodgerness.
They love to block their own talent by signing old broken down veterans to compete with them for spots they’ve done this with their position players too. If they aren’t going to spend big and sign stars they need to let their prospects play already and not spend big on 50 old injured veterans instead
if judman could not sign broken down players that would screw up his complete idea of what it takes to win a ws. good dodgers have deep pockets & let him sign polelicker & kelly.
This is the season that must determine if he’s a starter or a reliever. He’s healthy and young so put him in the rotation and see what he can do.