The Angels may spend the next couple of weeks reshaping their rotation, but one thing already looks clear: Walbert Urena is ready for a bigger stage.
With August 3 looming and trade talk building around Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano, the rookie right-hander has quietly become one of the most important arms on the roster. That’s a pretty sharp turn for a pitcher who made his major league debut out of the bullpen in March, then settled into the rotation after one more relief outing and never really looked back.
Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly put Urena on his list of 10 breakout candidates for the second half on Thursday, and it’s easy to see why. Through his first 18 appearances, the 2021 international signee has put together a 2.78 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across 87 ⅓ innings.
The raw stuff jumps off the page, too. Urena sits in the 99th percentile for offspeed run value, 93rd percentile in ground-ball percentage, 89th percentile in expected batting average, and 92nd percentile in fastball velocity on Baseball Savant. That’s the profile of a pitcher who can miss bats, keep the ball on the ground, and overpower hitters when he’s right.
And lately, he’s been right.
Since the start of May, Urena has allowed three or more runs in only three starts, and all three came in June. He’s found another gear in July, posting a 1.15 ERA over his three starts this month.
For now, Detmers and Soriano may be the names drawing the most attention, but Urena has been the steady presence in the Angels’ rotation. If those veterans do end up moving, the club already has a young arm in place to help carry the load down the stretch.
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With the front office in transition, the search for a long-term catcher figure to be one of the clearest priorities. There is still a path that keeps the current pipeline intact, but the more interesting possibility is a trade market that could bring in a young option with more staying power, which would mark a meaningful shift for a team that has spent too long living with uncertainty at a premium position. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face A Familiar Deadline Test With One Costly Veteran Bat
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Red Sox Tried To Pry Mike Trout From The Angels Again
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Boston is still looking around the Angels orbit, too, with Zach Neto now on its radar and Washington shortstop CJ Abrams also drawing interest. But Trout looks like a long shot at best this season, thanks to his no-trade clause and the Angels reluctance to move him, which leaves the Red Sox chasing talent while the most eye-catching possibility stays mostly theoretical. [Read more 🡒]