Dodgers: Dave Roberts Talks Expectations For Julio Urias in 2020

It seems like from the moment that he arrived in Los Angeles, Julio Urias has been handled like a delicate piece of glass. The Dodgers have done their best to keep him safe and keep the wear and tear off of him over the years, but it’s time to let him loose. 

Urias had career highs in appearances and innings pitched in 2019, despite floating between a starter and deliver. No matter how he has spent his time in the last few years, the Dodgers ultimately view him as a starter. Dave Roberts named him to the starting rotation in Spring Training and the job is officially his to lose. Doc talked about some of the expectations he has of Julio in 2020. 

Every year is a big year, but certainly with a shortened season, takings the reins off of Julio. He’s had a great offseason, quarantine, Spring Training, he looks great, his body feels good. He’s starting the season as a starter, that’s how we see him. So just for him to have the clarity to now then go out and execute pitches is a good thing. 

For Julio, it’s been a rollercoaster couple of years with the Dodgers. After debuting at just 19-years-old in 2016, Julio only appeared in eight games over the next two seasons. Urías tore an anterior capsule in his left shoulder that ended his 2017 season and kept him rehabbing for most of 2018. 

I think that it’s all contingent on how he builds up to his first start and obvosly with days rest, it’s gonna be a ten to twelve starts for the regular season I would guess. 

Urias has been almost untouchable as a reliever throughout his young career, with a sparkling 2.21 earned run average in 35 games. Despite that, the Dodgers view him as a starter long-term, so that is where he will be in 2020. And from what it sounds like, there will NOT be any of the innings limitations placed on him in years past.

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