Dodgers News: Julio Urías Makes Scoreless Spring Training debut
In a 5-3 win over the Oakland Athletics in a Cactus League game, Julio Urías pitched one inning for the Dodgers for his first start this Spring Training. Moreover, this would count as the first start Urías has made, in the Majors, since 2017.
Urías faced the minimum in his lone inning pitched. The sequencing of the inning featured the A’s leadoff hitter Robbie Grossman grounding out to third, Marcus Semien grounding out to second and the day’s designated-hitter Matt Chapman striking out to end the inning. In the three batters faced, Chapman was the only batter to grind out his at-bat against the 22-year-old.
Spring Training has gone as planned so far for Urías. Manager Dave Roberts had praise for the young left hander after his outing on Wednesday.
#Dodgers Dave Roberts on Julio Urias: "Today he was really sharp. He's been sharp all spring. Fastball, 94 to 97. Loved the at-bat against Chapman there (a K). He's just sharp. He's focused. He looks great. He's really determined."
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) February 27, 2019
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Last season, after a near 14 month layoff while recovering from shoulder surgery, Urías made his return to the Dodgers for the final two weeks of the season. He pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, appearing in 3 games while recording 7 strikeouts in 4 innings pitched. He faced 13 batters in total and allowed 1 hit and did not give up a run.
In the NLCS and World Series, Urías showed promise by only giving up two runs in seven games against two rosters that had the eventual National League MVP and the American League leader in runs batted in.
With Clayton Kershaw ailing, there has been chatter about the possibility of Julio potentially stepping into the Dodgers’ rotation out of spring training. Should the Dodgers give him a shot?
Megan…….He (Urias) is the primary reason I am not panicking over the vague Kershaw injury status……….if Clayton cannot pitch this season, Julio, IMO, should be given the FIRST opportunity to step in to the rotation to replace him…….problem is our current coaching “brain trust” might not feel that way.
If he can stay healthy he will be a beast. I do not expect to see Kershaw any time soon, or at all for that matter. This is the best news to come out of spring training.