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Dodgers Preview 2017: The Pitching Rotation

By Evan Lovett

Oct 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias throws against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning during game four of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 19, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias throws against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning during game four of the 2016 NLCS playoff baseball series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 24, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias (7) poses for a photo during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 24, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias (7) poses for a photo during photo day at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

The Untouchable Phenom

Urias, the 20-year old wunderkind, is so impressive that the Dodgers front office has refused to discuss him in deals for years.

A combination of Fernando Valenzuela and Clayton Kershaw, the Sinaloa, Mexico native has joined some pretty spectacular company in his brief Major League career thus far.

Dwight Gooden and Bob Feller are the only other 19-year old pitchers that struck out 25% or more of batters faced – and one of those guys is a Hall of Famer, and the other should have been, were it not for his demons.

Urias finished last season with 84 strikeouts and five wins in 77 innings, compiling a 3.39 ERA. Not bad for a kid that still can not legally drink.

The only thing that may slow Urias is an innings limit, as the Dodgers are notoriously protective of young pitchers.

Expect manager Dave Roberts to skip him in the rotation a few times to save the bullets in his left arm.

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