Dodgers to Debut Top Pitching Prospect Julio Urias

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won four straight games but cannot edge closer to the first place San Francisco Giants as the Giants have won 5 straight and 9 of 10.

On Friday night, the Dodgers open a series against the New York Mets and are expected to have rookie pitcher Julio Urias on the mound making his debut in the major leagues.

This is quite a spot for the southpaw, to debut in the Big Apple in front of the raucous Mets crowd. It is expected the club will purchase the contract of Urias, who is just 19, and add him to both their 25-man active and 40-man roster.

The scheduled starter for the Dodgers Alex Wood has soreness in his triceps and will miss his turn. However, Los Angeles is expecting Wood to return on Monday to pitch against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Urias has not just been considered the top prospect by the Dodgers but has also been labeled as the overall top prospect in all of baseball.

He in turn has not disappointed those following him at Oklahoma City, the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate where he is 4-1 with an ERA of 1.10 in seven starts and eight overall appearances. He has thrown just 41 innings.

The native of Mexico is currently on a run of 27 straight scoreless innings in Triple-A, recording five during his most recent start last Friday versus Salt Lake.

Andrew Friedman the Dodgers baseball operations president said that Julio is very excited to debut on Friday in New York.

Friedman added that he did not think it was possible to be certain how someone would handle the emotions as they fulfill a dream of a lifetime.

Everyone in the organization added Friedman has work with Urias and raves about his presence on the mound and ability to stay in control of his emotions.

In August of 2012, Urias was signed as a free agent who was undrafted. He has earned comparisons to another southpaw from the Dodgers, who also was from Mexico named Fernando Valenzuela.

The youngster’s debut on Friday will be in front of the former Dodgers pitcher Valenzuela who is part of the Dodgers broadcast team for Spanish language listeners.

Even prior to the season starting, Urias held his opponents to a batting average of just .219 during the three seasons he has played in the organization.

He has a WHIP of 1.08 and is averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.