Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Seasonal goals a priority
Urena says Opening Day nod holds little significance
Jose Urena was 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA last season. After three spring outings, he has a 1.29 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with six strikeouts in seven innings. starters provided opportunity, and Urena went on to lead the team with 14 wins.
His work ethic this spring indicates a determination to improve on that.
Veteran third baseman Martin Prado remembers Urena as a lanky beanpole on the mound when he first saw him a few years ago. Now, at 26, the physique is chiseled, his presence imposing.
“Look at him. He’s like a wall, like a brick wall,” Prado said. “I think he watched Jose Fernandez pitching and got a feel for the intensity and how he prepared and how to attack the hitters. He got that from Jose. And work ethic, he just had that.
“Now he put everything together and now you’ve got a complete package. I’m really happy that he got the opportunity because last year he wasn’t in the mix.”
While Straily expressed a desire for the Opening Day assignment, Urena said the two of them communicated via text during the offseason about working together as leaders of the staff.
They are the only two set in the rotation, while as many as nine others are receiving consideration for the other three spots.
“I’m proud for him being that he’s a Dominican and getting the nod,” said countryman Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins’ top pitching prospect who is making a strong bid for one of those spots. “I’ve noticed from my time here that he’s always working hard, he’s always in the weight room putting his work in. And that he also takes that to the field, and how he competes. That’s something I’m trying to apply to my game.”
Last year Urena was 14-7 with a 3.82 ERA. After three spring outings, he has a 1.29 ERA and 1.14 WHIP with six strikeouts in seven innings.
His fastball has been registering 97 mph and the last time out touched 98. As was the case last season, his command of the pitch continues to be erratic, and his secondary pitches remain a work in progress.
“We’re working with the breaking ball because that was the thing we had a little trouble with,” he said. “I try to improve myself and try to do the best I can working with the breaking ball.”
But Mattingly saw the progress during Urena’s breakout season and again this spring to put faith in him as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
“Jose’s come a long way from when I saw him four or five years ago when I was with the Dodgers,” Mattingly said. “I’m seeing this skinny, young kid and now we’re seeing a body that’s developed, more maturity on the mound, better use of his secondaries, learning to prepare.
“He really watches games when he’s not pitching and pays attention. You see a guy that’s just maturing from a guy that’s just trying to survive at the bigleague level to a guy that now has a chance and is starting to get some tools where he can take it to another level, and that’s what we’re hoping for from him.”
There was an incident last June in Atlanta when it became apparent that Urena was no pushover even as he remained a work in progress. It was a day that his fastball command was tenuous and he hit the Braves’ Matt Adams and Kurt Suzuki following a leadoff single to load the bases.
Urena got the next three batters to escape the jam, and after the inning Adams had some choice words for him.
“They were mad,” Urena said afterward. “We’re playing, man. We’re playing baseball, enough with that. I asked him, ‘Did he think I hit him on purpose?’ He said, ‘No, it’s OK.’ ”