6 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias will be a starter to begin the season, according to president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. Urias was originally slated to begin the year in the bullpen, but a knee injury to Rich Hill has now pulled Urias into the rotation. He will return to relieving once Hill is healed. Urias pitched only four innings at the end of last season, along with six innings in the postseason, upon his return from shoulder capsule surgery a season before. His velocity since then has been exceptional, getting up to 98 mph in Spring Training, though that will likely drop a little once he starts. Still, his career average fastball velocity has been 93 mph, so there's a lot to get excited about. The only drawback to his game will be the number of innings to which he'll be limited due to his recovery. But nothing is ever etched in stone with the Dodgers and it's difficult to imagine the team would start lesser, unproven arms if they're in the playoff hunt. A former top pitching prospect who's only 22 years old, Urias should be someone you're drafting and targeting heavily.--Mario Hernandez - RotoBaller
Source: Bill Plunkett - OC Register