MESA, Ariz. _ For a few minutes Wednesday afternoon, Julio Urias, the oldest 22-year-old in baseball, cruised against the Oakland Athletics at Hohokam Stadium. His fastball zipped between 94 and 97 mph. His changeup baffled. It was only 14 pitches in a spring-training game in late February _ specks on a baseball season's canvas _ but he looked good. That is not insignificant for the Dodgers.
Nearly three years after making his debut at age 19 and two years since major surgery on his throwing shoulder, Urias entered spring training healthy and confident coming off an unexpected postseason trial. The left-hander says he is ready for any role the Dodgers throw his way, whether starter or reliever. The last two seasons, years in which he's logged total of 271/3 innings at the major league level, have taught him hard lessons.
"More than anything, mentally," Urias said in Spanish. "A lot of times, when you're on this team, obviously a team so big, you try to do the job as best you can so you don't get sent down to triple A. That's always passed my mind. Now I'm focused on feeling good each start I get and do the best that I can. Whatever happens, happens. You don't control that."
The Dodgers will practice caution with their former teenage phenom. Manager Dave Roberts said Urias will start games on a regular starter's schedule for a couple weeks before the club decides whether to continue stretching him out. He'll be on an undetermined innings limit during the regular season. Ideally, he will be available to help the Dodgers late in the season, as he did in 2018, when he reached the majors in September and made seven playoff appearances. But Roberts did not rule out the possibility of Urias starting the season in the team's starting rotation.
"I think it's unfair to put limits on him and as far as potential to open the season," Roberts said. "So, right now, he's doing everything he possibly can to just keep him focused on getting better each time out there, each day. But, yeah, certainly the door's open for him. The opportunity will present itself if it's supposed to."
On Wednesday, Urias elicited groundouts from the first two batters he faced before striking out Matt Chapman swinging with his 14th offering, a fastball up in the zone and an exclamation point to an encouraging performance.
"Loved the at-bat against Chapman right there," Roberts said. "He's just sharp. He's focused. Like I said before, he looks great. He's determined. So today was a really good outing."
