Dodgers’ Julio Urias Has 2nd Best Combo of Tools
The fine folks over at MLB.com and MLB Pipeline have been stringing together a ton of content as spring training inches closer. Today, they released their top pitchers with the best combo of tools. Not shockingly, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias is on that list.
The only pitcher that graded out as better than Urias is Washington Nationals right-hander Lucas Giolito, as studly of a pitching prospect as there has been in quite some time. So, for Urias to be nipping at his heels is a major accomplishment.
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From Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com about the talented left-hander:
[Urias] doesn’t have the 80 or 70 on his report card like Giolito, but he is consistently plus across the board.
That’s true. While Giolito graded out with an 80-grade fastball and 70-grade curveball, Urias was as consistent across the board on the rating scale as one could be. His fastball graded out at a 65 on the 20-80 scale, and his curveball and change-up each were a 60. His control, like Giolito’s, was a 55.
You can take a look at the chart below just to see how all of the top prospects stacked up with one another. It comes courtesy of the same article:
The aggregate total is pulled from their best three pitches and their control rating. That’s how Urias’ 65 + 60 + 60 + 55 = 240. It just goes to show you how special of a prospect Urias is, and how fantastic he’s been at such a young age.
The 19-year old left-hander will likely begin the year back at Double-A or even possibly in Triple-A, with an estimated arrival of 2017. He might be able to make it up to the big leagues in September when rosters expand, but for now they just need to take their time with him.
Urias’ ceiling is hard to quantify, but if he develops into what the Dodgers hope him to be, you could be looking at a top-of-the-rotation starter for many years to come. In the end, the organization is thrilled to have him and we’re thrilled to watch him continue his ungodly progression.
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