It would be criminal not to acknowledge how great Dodgers left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu was during Sunday’s 14-0 rout of the National League West last place San Diego Padres in front of 50,250 at Dodger Stadium, the final Dodgers home game of the 2018 regular season. All the 31-year-old Incheon, South Korea native did was allow no runs and only four hits, while walking none and striking out eight in his brilliant 6.0 innings of work. He also went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored two runs.

But there was another pitching star for the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon, one whose return from anterior capsule surgery on his left shoulder has been long anticipated and most certainly appears to be complete. That other pitching star was 22-year-old fellow left-hander Julio Urías, who was equally brilliant on Sunday, albeit for only 2.0 innings of work and against only seven total batters. Urias did not allow a run and gave up only one hit, while walking none and (wait for it…) striking out four of those seven batters he faced.

“I’m happy to get the opportunity, but the important thing is that we won and that’s what we need to do right now,” Urías told reporters after the game through an interpreter. “I’m just happy and thankful to God that I’m able to do what I like to do and that I’m able to be on the mound, and the results were there.”

Results indeed.

The Culiacan, Mexico native made a total of 29 pitches in his two innings of work, of which 22 were strikes. The lone hit that Urías allowed was a clean single to center by Padres left fielder Hunter Renfroe with one out in the top of the ninth inning. He never made any further than that.

What did Dodgers manager Dave Roberts think of his young left-hander’s performance on Sunday?

“We’ve been trying to figure out a spot to place him and today he threw the ball really well,” Roberts said. “And even in St. Louis, I thought the inning the ball came out well. So, to get him up and down two innings, I thought that was good for him. He’ll get a couple days off here and we’ll see where we’re at after that.”

Urías’  fastball averaged 94-MPH on Sunday afternoon and topped out at 97. He’s ready.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

During his two innings of work on Sunday, Urías’ spot came up in the batting order in the bottom of the eighth inning. It was not pretty. In fact, the hard-throwing left-hander never even took the bat off his shoulder … not even so much as to fake a bunt. But then, why should he with his team up by two touchdowns?

“It’s been a year since I’ve batted,” he said with a chuckle.

Wearing Max Muncy‘s helmet did little to help Urías in his first major league at-bat in over a year on Sunday afternoon. Then again, he isn’t here to hit; although Hyun-Jin Ryu might disagree.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although there is zero doubt that Urías will eventually return to the Dodgers starting rotation, his role over the remaining six games of the regular season will undoubtedly be out of the bullpen for perhaps two and maybe even three innings. As for whether or not he might be included on the Dodgers (hopeful) postseason roster, that falls under that “…we’ll see where we’re at after that” thing that Roberts mentioned.

Play Ball!