The Los Angeles Dodgers today named left-handed pitcher Julio Urias as the Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year and infielder Corey Seager and outfielder Joc Pederson as co-Minor League Players of the Year.

Urias, who turned 18 on August 12, spent the season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and went 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 25 games (20 starts), including posting a 1.20 ERA (6 ER/45.0 IP) in 12 games (10 starts) after the All-Star break. In only his second professional season, the Mexico native was selected to the World Team for the XM All-Star Futures Game in Minneapolis, becoming the youngest-ever player to participate in the contest.

Facing hitters that were on average five years older than him in the California League this season, Urias limited opposing hitters to a .194 batting average (60-for-310), including a .175 mark against left-handed hitters (17-for-97). Urias struck out 109 batters, while walking only 37 and allowing only four homers in 87.2 innings pitched.

Urias was signed as a non-drafted free agent on August 17, 2012 out of Culiacan Rosales, Mexico and signed by Dodger scout Mike Brito.

Julio Urias

Seager, who turned 20 on April 27, was selected to Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Team, batting a combined .349 with a minor league-best 50 doubles, five triples, 20 homers, the second-most extra-base hits in the minors (75) and 97 RBI in 118 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga in his third professional season. He represented the U.S. team at the XM All-Star Futures Game and posted a .402 combined on-base percentage and a .602 slugging percentage, while batting .347 (50-for-144) with runners in scoring position.

Seager opened the season with Rancho Cucamonga, where he earned California League Most Valuable Player honors after leading the league in doubles (34), total bases (207), extra-base hits (54), slugging percentage (.633) and OPS (1.044). Seager, a mid-season and postseason California League All-Star, also ranked among the league leaders in hits (115, T-3rd), batting average (.352, 2nd), home runs (18, T-5th) and RBI (70, T-6^th).

He was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga on July 17, where he helped lead the Lookouts to a postseason berth by hitting .345 (51-for-148) with 16 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 27 RBI in 38 games. Seager had a season-long 18-game hitting streak from July 31-Aug. 19, batting .394 (28-for-71) with eight doubles, a triple, a homer and 15 RBI during the run. He was exceptional with runners in scoring position as a Lookout, hitting .413 (19-for-46) with seven doubles, one triple, one home run and 25 RBI.

Seager was selected by the Dodgers in the first round (18th overall) in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Northwest Cabarrus High School in North Carolina and was signed by scout Lon Joyce.

Corey Seager

Pederson was honored as the Dodgers’ Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year for the second time (also: 2012) after a historic season with Triple-A Albuquerque and just the fourth 30-home run/30-stolen base campaign in Pacific Coast League history. The 22-year-old was honored as a 2014 mid-season Pacific Coast League All-Star, a selection to the All-PCL Team and as the league’s Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year. He was also selected by Baseball America to the publication’s Minor League All-Star Team.

Pederson batted .303 and led the PCL with 33 home runs, while ranking among the league leaders in RBI (78, 10th), stolen bases (30, 3rd), on-base percentage (.435, 2nd) and slugging percentage (.582, 9th). He proved to be equally dangerous against right-handers (.306/.442/.573) and lefties (.299/.422/.598) and batted .366 with runners on base (64-for-175).

The Californian opened the year by participating in his first big league Spring Training, traveled to Australia with the club in March for the Opening Series, and finished it off in the Majors with his debut on Sept. 1. Pederson, who picked up his first MLB hit on Sept. 2 against the Nationals and has appeared in 15 games for the Dodgers, was selected by Los Angeles in the 11th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Palo Alto High School and was signed by scout Orsino Hill.

Joc Pederson

Branch Rickey Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year: 1989-2014

 (Article courtesy of Dodgers PR Department. Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)