Ramón Urías: Magdalena de Kino’s Golden Child

Before ever playing in a little league baseball game, Ramón Urías would wander the streets of his hometown, Magdalena de Kino, Mexico, with a ball and glove, looking for any available opportunity to play baseball somewhere, someway, somehow. With a population of about 30,000 people, growing up in a small town played a big role in Urías finding his love for baseball.

“I would say it’s different than growing up in a big city because in reality it’s a small town where everyone knows each other,” said Urías. “The only thing there was to do growing up was play baseball and I think that helped me.”

Very few people ever get the opportunity to sign with a Major League Baseball organization. Even fewer get the long-awaited call to the big leagues. That number is diminished even further when you count the number of Mexican-born players who have accomplished the incredible feat. That is what makes Urías’ accomplishments since making his Major League debut in 2020 so special. In the span of three years, Urías became one of 146 Mexican-born position players, and 238 total Mexican-born players, to make his Major League debut, and just the fourth Mexican-born player to win a Gold Glove Award. But before he was etching his name in the Major League Baseball history books, he was a little kid in Magdalena de Kino looking for his next chance to play.

Like most baseball players, Urías’ love for the game was inspired by his father, a teacher and baseball coach. But unlike most players, Urías’ love for the game was sparked by the theft of his father’s team’s equipment.

“One day, some people started stealing everything, and all they left behind was a set of catcher’s gear,” said Urías. “He then brought it home, and when he did, I got the catcher’s gear and threw it on.”

Luckily for Urías, he had a built-in catch partner. His younger brother, Luis, was just as passionate about playing baseball as Ramón, and he was always there, ready to play. During the hours spent playing baseball together, the duo could never have imagined that their day-to-day pursuit of baseball would take them as far as a Major League stadium. But that is exactly what it did.

“We always played together at home,” said Urías. “We only did it to have fun. As soon as school ended, we would always go and play by the garage of our home, and it was like that every day.”

It was that everyday pursuit of playing a game that he loved that helped Urías through the treacherous road to reach the Major Leagues. After signing his first professional contract with the Texas Rangers as a 16-year-old, Urías spent nine seasons with three different organizations, going between the minors and Mexican League before finally getting called up to the bigs with the Orioles.

While Urías was thankful for the opportunity with the Rangers, one he never expected to have, officially becoming a Major League Baseball player was not all that he thought it would be. Like many international signees, Urías was dealing with outside factors that did not always make what he was accomplishing feel like the sunshine and rainbows he was expecting.

“It was a difficult experience because I was 16 years old,” said Urías. “I left my family, my friends, everyone. I left the country without knowing anyone, trying to pursue my dream and honestly it was very different from anything I was used to. But I think that it served me well one way or another to stay hungry for what I was looking for.”

It is because of that hunger that Urías kept working to get through the daily grind that comes with playing any sport professionally. Urías played in a total of 580 minor league games over parts of nine seasons before getting the call up in 2020. That included a five-year run in the Mexican League before he got the opportunity to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals before the 2018 season.

In his final year in the Mexican League, he impressed with a .340 batting average, 19 homers, 79 RBI, and an OPS of 1.010. The Cardinals thought well enough of him based off those numbers, especially the fact that he had a .323 average across his five seasons there to pair with his excellent fielding ability. Despite his strong season, Urías was designated for assignment on February 6, 2020, after parts of two minor league seasons with the Cardinals. However, before wondering what he would have to do for another chance to be with a Major League ball club, the Orioles claimed him off waivers.

“When the Cardinals removed me from the roster, it felt a little disappointing because I thought that I would stay without the opportunity to make it to the big leagues,” said Urías. “But when the Orioles took a chance on me, it was kind of like that born-again feeling. Again, an opportunity. Again, I’m close. I just wanted to take advantage of that to the maximum.”

After being claimed by the Orioles, Urías was sent to Triple-A Norfolk where he had to exercise patience a little while longer. Then, a couple months after being claimed, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In a time when the pandemic brought so many negatives, there was one positive for Urías. With so many guys shuffling in and out of play, there were more opportunities than ever for players on the major league roster.

“I was feeling really well,” said Urías. “I was having really good at-bats, I was in rhythm, and I stayed focused. I didn’t feel disappointed or anything. I only got happier because I knew that they had me in mind and I was even closer to reaching that level. And then finally they called me to tell me that I was going to Baltimore, and this time, I was to be activated.”

Urías finally reached the light at the end of the tunnel, he was getting the chance to live out his childhood dream. After telling his loved ones what had happened, all the countless hours spent wandering the streets and playing baseball with his brother felt worth it when Urías finally debuted on August 20, 2020, as a pinch-hitter against the Red Sox.

It took almost a year for Urías to find a full-time job in the bigs. He was recalled by the Orioles in late June 2021, and he was finally here to stay. He raised his batting average from .250 in June all the way to .279 by season’s end, and he never looked back.

Urías made a name for himself in 2022, posting career-highs in basically every offensive category. While his offensive numbers were impressive, it was his ability on defense that really shone. Urías earned his first career Gold Glove in November 2022, joining Brooks Robinson and Manny Machado as the only third basemen in Orioles history to achieve the honor.

“It’s really special,” said Urías. “It makes me feel really proud. You know, Brooks Robinson and Manny Machado, are excellent ballplayers whom I don’t compare myself to. But I’m really proud to have my name there alongside them.”

As for what’s next for Urías, he hopes to build off what he did last year and continue helping the team find ways to win.

“I think that nowadays, every team looks for versatility because of pitcher matchups and all that,” said Urías. “The more positions you play, the more opportunity you have to be in the lineup. I am always happy to help the team as much as possible, which includes always being ready for when they need me. I don’t care if it’s at second base, short, third base, or wherever, I am always going to give my best.”

Giving his best is all Urías knows. It’s all he’s ever done since he was a young boy putting on catcher’s equipment in Mexico with a dream of playing in the big leagues someday. His best got him through some challenging years in the minors and has allowed him to bring gold back to Magdalena de Kino.

However, Urías knows the job isn’t finished. He may no longer have to walk the streets looking for someone to play with him, but he still shows up to the ballpark as the same kid who first fell in love with the game, and wanted nothing more than to play baseball all day.

“I think looking back from where I came from, how many things I’ve been through, and how many things I’ve overcome, is the best motivation for me to keep fighting and never give up.”