Feel the buzz: Julio Urias strikes out two in perfect inning

Julio Urias warming up: https://t.co/hIxysTABIH

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 15, 2014

By Jon Weisman

Six years and six days after Clayton Kershaw put himself on the Spring Training map just before his 20th birthday with “Public Enemy No. 1,” 17-year-old Julio Urias has made his initial moundprint.

Urias, who doesn’t even turn 18 until August, was a surprise starter in the Dodgers’ afternoon Spring Training game against San Diego. After falling behind in the count 3-0 to Padres leadoff batter Will Venable, Urias came back to strike him out, induce a groundout from Chris Denorfia and then strike out Yonder Alonso. Urias reportedly had a fastball between 93 and 96 miles per hour.

Pitching most of 2013 at age 16, Urias had 67 strikeouts against 61 baserunners in 54 1/3 innings for Single-A Great Lakes with a 2.48 ERA.

Urias, born exactly two years after the 1994 MLB strike began, could pitch in Double-A this year and be in the majors before his 19th birthday if the Dodgers are willing to let the reins go that much. Of course, expect them to be exceedingly careful.

For comparison, Fernando Valenzuela was 18 1/2 when he made his minor-league debut in 1979, and reached the majors two months before his 20th birthday in 1980. Kershaw made his MLB debut at age 20 and two months in 2008.

I interviewed Urias in February for a future Dodger Insider article, and the word I would use to describe him is “confident.” And why not?

Urias made Alanso look silly on a 1-2 pitch. Looked like a changeup.

— Dustin Nosler (@DustinNosler) March 15, 2014

Scout on Urias: “Stuff was good. Pitches to both sides with tail and sink. Deception with his changeup. Poised.”

— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) March 15, 2014

17-year-old Julio Urias said his goal for 2014 is to finish the season in the major leagues.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 15, 2014