WALBERT UREÑA’S 2026 SEASON IN REVIEW
In his first full Major League season, the 22-year-old pitched to a 9-11 record and 2.97 ERA (148.1 IP – 49 ER) with 142 strikeouts.
Below are some additional accomplishments this season:
AMONG ROOKIES
- Led Major League rookies in ground ball rate (55.9%), ranked third in opponent batting average (.210), OPS against (.613), and home run rate (1.6%), and ranked fourth in ERA (2.97), quality starts (13), and wOBA against (.279). Ureña also tied for fifth among rookies in wins (9) and strikeouts (142) and ranked sixth in innings pitched (148.1).
- Among Angels rookies to make at least 20 starts, Ureña’s .210 opponent batting average and .613 OPS against are the lowest in franchise history, and his 22.7% strikeout rate ranks second.
- Right-handed hitters batted .191 (46/241) against Ureña this season, the fifth-lowest BAA in the Majors and third-lowest in the American League.
- Pitched 5.0+ innings and allowed three-or-fewer earned runs in 10 consecutive starts from May 1 to June 20; became the first pitcher to work 5.0+ innings and allow three-or-fewer earned runs in 10 straight starts since Paul Skenes in 2024 and youngest to do so in the American League since Mark Buehrle in 2001.
- Is the first pitcher to finish a year with at least nine wins and an ERA below 3.00 in his age-22 season (or younger) since Paul Skenes in 2024. Over the last 30 years, just two A.L. players have had such a season at age-22 (or younger): Francisco Liriano (2006 MIN) & Trevor Cahill (2010 OAK).
- Is the first Angels rookie to record nine wins as a starter since Jaime Barria (10 wins) in 2018.
SECOND HALF STAR
- Led qualified A.L. rookie starting pitchers with a .216 opponent average and .603 OPS against in the second half. Also ranked second in wins (tied; 4), innings pitched (67.0 IP) and WHIP (1.12), and ranked third in strikeouts (64).
- Since the start of July, posted a 2.82 ERA (76.2 IP – 24 ER) with 73 strikeouts and seven quality starts…Held opponents to one-or-fewer runs in nine of 14 starts in that span, with four scoreless outings.
STATCAST RANKINGS
- Ranks in the 100th percentile for Offspeed Run Value (18) and in the 87th percentile for overall Pitching Run Value (15). Ranks in the 95th percentile in ground ball rate (55.9%) and in the 94th percentile for average fastball velocity (98.1 MPH).
- Also ranks in the 85th percentile for barrel rate (5.4%), in the 84th percentile for expected batting average (.208), and in the 82nd percentile for average exit velocity (87.2 MPH).
SWING AND MISS
- Finished the season third among American League rookies with 142 strikeouts. Also ranked in the top five in called strike plus whiff rate (third; 28.6%), chase rate (third; 31.7%), swinging strike rate (fourth; 13.0%), miss rate (fourth, 27.7%), and in-zone whiff rate (fourth; 17.6%).
\*Research provided by Elias Sports Bureau, TruMedia, STATS, ESPN Stats & Info, Baseball Reference, Sportradar, Fangraphs and MLB***