Julio César Urías Acosta is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher currently a free agent. Nicknamed "El Culichi," Urías was born on August 12, 1996, in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, to parents Carlos Urías and Juana Isabel Acosta. Some of his early baseball memories include playing for the Mexico national youth team in his early teens. The Los Angeles Dodgers first scouted Urias when he was 14 years old. The organization ended up signing him on August 12, 2012, his 16th birthday. They paid him a signing fee of US$450,000.
Urías made his professional debut on May 25, 2013, for the Great Lakes Loons in the Midwest League. He was the youngest player in the league at the time. In a total of 18 starts in his first season, Urias finished with a 2–0 with a 2.48 ERA, recording 67 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. He'd spend the next season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League. He was 2–2 with a 2.36 ERA in 25 appearances. Following his performances on the field, Urias was honored with the Dodgers organizational "Minor League Pitcher of the Year" for 2014. He was also selected to play for the World team at the 2014 All-Star Futures Game. Ranked the top left-handed pitching prospect in all of baseball entering the 2015 season, MLB.com ranked Urias the 8th-best prospect in baseball. Baseball America named him the #10 prospect in 2015.
Urías debuted in the MLB on May 27, 2016, against the New York Mets. Only 19 at the time, Urias was the youngest starting pitcher to debut in the Majors since Félix Hernández in the 2005 season. Urías won the World Series championship with the Dodgers in 2020, arguably his biggest coup in the game. He has also been selected to the All-MLB Second Team, in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Urías was also the NL wins leader and NL ERA leader once each.
Currently a free agent due to his domestic violence charges, the 27-year-old Urias will quickly look to get back in the fold.
Julio Urias's Parents
Carlos Urias and Juana Isabel Acosta are the proud parents of Julio Urias. The couple hails from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. They gave birth to Urias in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, on August 12, 1996. The pair have two more children apart from Urias, a son named Carlos Alberto Urias Acosta and a daughter named Alexia Guadalupe Urías Acosta. According to some reports, Carlos, like his older brother Urias, was also involved in the game of baseball. He played for a prominent Mexican team, Tomateros de Culiacán, back in the day. He never went professional, however.
Julio Urias's Father
Carlos Urias is Julio Urias's father. Carlos resides in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, and is an ardent baseball fan as per reports. His unwavering support and dedication have been instrumental in shaping Urias's rise to MLB stardom.
Julio Urias's Mother
Juana Isabel Acosta is Julio Urias's mother. Just like her husband and son, Juana also shared the same enthusiasm for the sport. She was critical in noticing her son’s potential and nurturing his talents at a very young age. No more information is available regarding Juana's personal life or background.
Julio Urias's Parent's Nationality
Carlos Urias and Juana Isabel Acosta are both Mexican nationals and hail from Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Urias too is a Mexican national like his parents and holds a Mexican passport.
Urías represented his country internationally in his teens, playing for the Mexico national youth team. He has also represented them at World Baseball Classics, even carrying out the Mexican flag on the international stage. His success in the majors has also propelled the popularity of baseball in Mexico.
FAQs
A. Carlos Urias and Juana Isabel Acosta are the proud parents of Julio Urias.
A. Julio Urias was born in in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico, on August 12, 1996.
A. Yes, Julio Urias has two siblings, a brother named Carlos Alberto Urias Acosta and a daughter named Alexia Guadalupe Urías Acosta.
A. Julio Urías has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers only as of November 2021.
A. Julio Urías made his MLB debut on May 27, 2016, against the New York Mets.