LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Dodgers today selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Julio Urias (#78) from Triple-A Oklahoma City, with the 19-year-old set to make his Major League debut as the Dodgers' starting pitcher tonight at New York-NL.
Urias, pronounced oo-REE-ahs, last pitched on May 20 vs. Salt Lake (Angels), striking out five and allowing three hits in 5.0 scoreless innings (64 pitches) in the OKC Dodgers' 1-0 win, and enters tonight's start riding a 27.0 scoreless-inning streak, last allowing a run April 22. He went 4-1 with a 1.10 ERA in eight games (seven starts) with Triple-A Oklahoma City and at the time of his promotion, Urias led the Pacific Coast League in ERA (1.10), WHIP (0.78) and opponents' batting average (.176), while tying for 10th with 44 strikeouts against just eight walks in 41.0 innings. Urias, who was originally signed by Los Angeles as an amateur free agent on Aug. 17, 2012 out of Mexico, entered the 2016 season rated by MLB.com as the top left-handed pitching prospect and the fourth-best overall prospect in baseball.
At 19 years, 289 days, Urias will be the Dodgers' youngest starting pitcher since Dick Calmus, who took the mound at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 23, 1963 vs. Milwaukee at 19 years, 228 days. He will also become the youngest Dodger to make his Major League debut since Adrian Beltre (19 years, 78 days on his debut, June 24, 1998 vs. LAA) and the youngest Dodger to make his debut as a starting pitcher since Rex Barney (18 years, 242 days on his debut vs. the Cubs on Aug. 18, 1943) - Source: Stats, LLC.
To create room on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles transferred right-handed pitcher Yimi Garcia (right biceps soreness) to the 60-day disabled list. Yesterday, the club optioned left-hander Luis Avilan to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
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