Julio Urias, Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 205 lbs.

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

2015 Minor League Stats (Rookie, A+, AA, AAA): 3.81 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 88 Ks, 9.9 K/9

The Dodgers’ minor league system is stocked full of potential All-Stars, but the cream of the crop on the pitching side is Mexican sensation Julio Urias. There are so many things to love about Urias that it’s hard to pick a starting point. For fantasy owners, especially in dynasty leagues, it’s oftentimes a guessing game as to when a player will arrive in the major leagues. Urias is a rare breed that will likely make his major league debut before the age of 20.

Yes, that’s right. Urias is only 19 years old. The way he has vaulted through the Dodgers’ minor league system is absolutely amazing. As a 16-year-old he went 2-0 with a 2.48 ERA and a K/9 of 11.1. These numbers came over 18 starts. The magnitude of that accomplishment cannot be overstated. He was still a kid at the time—a pup if you will.

After posting those kind of numbers at Single-A, it is no surprise that he has vaulted his way though the minor leagues at an accelerated pace. Last season, he made appearance over four different levels, though it’s worth noting that the vast majority of his work came in Double-A where he made 13 starts and went 3-4 with a 2.77 ERA and a 9.7 K/9 number. In total, Urias only made 18 starts in 2015, but that was due to an elective surgery.

Urias was born with a benign mass in or around his left eye. It required three surgeries as a child that left him with a droopy eyelid. The surgery was likely a blessing in disguise as it allowed the Dodgers to limit his innings. Given how young Urias is, the team would prefer to not put any added strain on his arm at such a young age. Urias only pitched 80.1 innings last season, so he’s sure to see a bump, but it will be interesting to see where the Dodgers draw the line. Something in the 130-140 innings pitched range seems likely.

With a nasty deceptive fastball that generally sits in the 92-94 range, Urias is going to be able to mow down hitters will ease. It doesn’t hurt that he can dial it up into the high-90s if need be. Naturally, his fastball will garner plenty of attention, but his true strikeout pitch is his curveball. Urias has excellent command on the pitch and given his age, it could reach a 60 grade with more polish. His changeup continues to develop and will likely be another weapon in Urias’ arsenal by the time he reaches the major leagues later this year.

The control that Urias has exhibited at his young age is truly remarkable. In Double-A last year, he walked just 15 batters over 68.1 innings. With a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.93 over that span, it gives us a glimpse of what to expect in the future. Remember—Urias is only 19 years old!

We should see Urias arrive in the major leagues this season, though there is an outside chance the Dodgers could hold him off until next year. Even if he isn’t added to the rotation at some point this season, he could be brought up as an arm out of the bullpen for the stretch run and into the playoffs. As for the future, Urias’ ceiling is sky high. He is one of the most coveted young players in dynasty leagues and should be on the radar of any team in a true rebuild mode. In redraft leagues, he can be avoided in drafts this spring because he is destined for Triple-A to begin the year.

Once Urias finally reaches the majors, he could easily be Los Angeles’ second ace behind Clayton Kershaw. As for Kershaw, that is another factor that is easily glanced over. Not only does Urias have sky-high potential, but also the best pitcher in baseball will mentor him! These are the type of intangibles that shouldn’t go overlooked. Once he hits his prime, 200 innings and 200 strikeouts with phenomenal ratios are what should be expected. Hop on this train now because it isn’t slowing down anytime soon.