Remember when the Washington Nationals shutdown superstar pitcher Stephen Strasburg in 2012 just prior the playoffs because of an innings limit they had set for their former number one draft pick? More to the point, remember what happened to the Washington Nationals in the playoffs because of it? Although they may not have realized it at the time, the Nationals may have set a precedent for things to come in professional baseball – even on the minor league level.

Seventeen year old Julio Urias will not be helping the Great Lakes Looks in their bid to win a league championship. Urias has been shut down and will not play in the Midwest League playoffs. He was on a 70 inning limit beginning the season in A ball as a sixteen year old. I expect the initial thought was that he would be sent to the Ogden Raptors when the Rookie League began play in mid June. That didn’t happen as there was no need to do so. Urias pitched much better than a sixteen year old should be able to do against players several years older than him. In addition to his success, he became comfortable with his surroundings, teammates and coaches so there was need to uproot him again. He will stay with the team during the playoffs but will watch from the dugout.

There are valid arguments on both sides of the innings limit debate.
(Photo credit – Thomas Baird)

Urias pitched 54.1 innings in 18 starts with the Loons, averaging three innings per start. He won only two games as he rarely pitched enough innings to qualify for a win. He gave up only 44 hits, walked but 16 and struck out an impressive 67. He had a 2.48 ERA and the young lefty, a bit wily for his age, did not allow a stolen base. He prevented the steal with a deceptive move to first which resulted in five runners being picked off. That has a tendency to keep runners rather close to first base. In his last ten starts spanning 22 innings, he allowed five earned runs resulting in a 2.04 ERA during that time. In his last three starts, 10 total innings, he gave up no runs, struck out 14 and walked one. It’s safe to say he didn’t wear down or tire as the season progressed but it is hard to argue that it is best to be careful with that prized left arm and great kid. His other 15 innings were accumulated in extended spring training before joining the Loons in May.

One would expect that Urias will return to the Loons at the beginning of the 2014 season – possibly again on an innings limit.