While it is always a risk in comparing one player and his circumstances to another, sometimes the temptation to do so is just too strong to overcome. Their personal backgrounds are always different and their paths to major league baseball simply are never absolute parallels even if they should be raised in the same family in the same community. They possess different physical attributes, personality traits and have had differing experiences in their baseball lives as they have progressed from Little Leagues to professional baseball. In addition to all of these circumstances, they may be playing the game in a different time, even if their experiences are three or four years removed. For instant, a short few years ago the “shift’ did not play a very significant part in the game.

That’s why it is impossible to presently answer the Sandy Koufax or Clayton Kershaw question. That is, who is the better pitcher? For one thing, the question is, at best, too simple, as the answer depends on a number of changing factors. A perfect juxtaposition is not possible because of the times in which they played and the circumstances under which they played. Vin Scully has made that abundantly clear on more than one occasion when asked to compare the two. As always, Vin seems to have the right answer.

“The game is so different,” said the Hall of Fame broadcaster.

I might add that as time goes on even with those impediments to answering the question, Kershaw may, in due course, answer it for us.

Every time Clayton Kershaw takes the mound, chances are very good that something historical will happen.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

As mentioned, it is risky to attempt to draw parallels between two players for reasons already stated – among others – but to not do so is not very much fun either and doesn’t help us imagine what could be.

The question at hand for me is not Sandy Koufax and Clayton Kershaw. It is Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias. Many Dodger fans are clamoring for Urias to be promoted to the Dodgers as soon as possible – which could be on a day’s notice – to help inject some life and excitement into the Dodgers rotation. Dare we dream – Kershaw pitching on a Tuesday and Urias on a Wednesday?

The question remaining is simply: When is the correct time to put Julio Urias on the plane to Los Angeles? Does the approach taken with Kershaw help light the path?

Julio Urias
(Photo courtesy of okcdodgers.com)

Last week I was listening to a Tulsa Drillers game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Drillers play-by-play announcer, Dennis Higgins, was talking about pitchers and during his discourse he mentioned the shutout streak that Julio Urias is presently on. Higgins went on to say that OKC Dodgers pitching coach Matt Herges has advised the parent Dodgers that Urias is ready for major league baseball. Herges indicated that the young left-hander has done everything last thing, without fail, that he was asked to do to improve his game. He has met every target and there is simply not much more for him to do at the AAA level.

Clayton Kershaw was selected by the Dodgers with the seventh overall pick in the 2006 First Year Player Draft as an 18-year old out of Highland Park High School in Texas. During his three years of minor league ball he pitched 230.1 innings posting an ERA of 2.46 and a WHIP of 1.12 while striking out 291 and walking 94. He appeared in 50 minor league games.

Kershaw started the 2008 season with the AA Jacksonville Suns of the Southern League and after 11 starts was promoted to the Dodgers on May 25th having turned 20 in March. With the Suns before his promotion he pitched 61.1 innings with a 1.91 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while recording 59 strikeouts and 18 walks. Although he didn’t seem to be on a pitch or innings count, Kershaw was protected in a very different manner. The Dodgers simply refused to have him pitch in the launching pad with the AAA Las Vegas 51s in the Pacific Coast League so he advanced to MLB from Class AA ball.

Julio Urias from Culiacan Rosales, Sinaloa in Mexico was signed by the Dodgers as a free agent on Aug. 23, 2012. As a 16-year-old he made his professional debut with the Great Lakes Loons on May 26, 2013.

Now in his fourth year of minor league ball Urias has pitched 263.1 innings with an ERA of 2.63 and a WHIP of 1.08. He has struck out 308 and walked 83.

During the present campaign, not at Double-A ball but with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, Julio Urias has pitched 41 innings with an easily league leading ERA of 1.10 and a WHIP of 0.78. He has struck out 44 and walked eight. In 63 starts at the minor league level he has yet to issue an intentional base on balls.

Has Clayton Kershaw blazed the trail for Julio Urias to MLB? Both are talented left-handers who are quite animated in their deliveries. Kershaw is a bigger man at 6’4” – 225 lb while Urias who turns 20 in August is 6’0” – 215 lb. The latter most likely will not gain much more in height but no doubt will put on some more weight making him look more like Fernando Valenzuela that Clayton Kershaw.

I’m sure that Julio Urias is the topic of many discussions among the Dodgers brain trust. His development, according to Matt Herges and I expect most hitters in the Pacific Coast League, is pretty much complete at the AAA level. There is not much more for him to accomplish at that level already pitching against many major league ready and former major league players.

So what is the delay in making the call to Oklahoma City? His minor league accomplishments compare very favorably with Clayton Kershaw’s and eclipse those of another young left-hander who had his first full season with the Dodgers as a 20-year old. What Dodger fan will ever forget fellow Mexican Fernando Valenzuela’s 1981 season?

As mentioned it is always risky to draw comparisons between players but in this case I would say the stars are aligned (pun intended) and the time is right.

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(Editor’s Note: As if by premonition, that Dodgers announced on Thursday morning that Julio Urias has been called up to the Dodgers and will make his major league debut on Friday evening, May 27, 2016 against New York Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom at Citi Field. The wait is finally over!).