San Diego to recall Luis Urias from El Paso
Credit: USA Today Sports
The San Diego Padres have recalled infielder Luis Urias from El Paso. He will report to the team on Friday in Chicago.
After a long stint down in the Minors, Luis Urias is finally back with the Major League club. It took longer than expected, but the 22-year-old will be coming back up and is expected to be with the team in Chicago tomorrow. A corresponding move has yet to be announced.
The much-anticipated call-up of the Padres top position ranked prospect comes shortly after the Triple-A All-Star Game. Urias made a quick cameo in the Majors from April 8th to the 21st but played in only 11 games while collecting just two hits in 24 at-bats. He picked up four walks and struck out eleven times.
This time, however, Urias is out to prove that his previous demotion will be the last time he has to get sent down to the minors.
Urias didn’t take the demotion lightly and spent his time in El Paso torching Triple-A hitting to the tune of a .315/.398/.600 batting line while clubbing 19 home runs. While the Pacific Coast League is known as a hitter’s paradise, the surge in power is a surprise to be sure, but a welcome one in the eyes of the Padres front, especially after he hit only eight home runs in El Paso last year. Even with the spike in power, Urias has not sacrificed his plate discipline as the .398 OPB is the same mark he posted last year with the Chihuahuas.
Luis Urias will join the #Padres in Chicago tomorrow.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) July 20, 2019
Urias has been the subject of heavy trade rumors in the past, but that is more because of both his high-ceiling and the embarrassing wealth at middle infield talent the Padres have in their farm system. He has been consistently named in trade rumors for high profile names like Trevor Bauer and Noah Syndergaard, so perhaps AJ Preller and company want Urias to showcase his skills not just for San Diego, but for the interested parties that have been keeping tabs on him. This is, however, pure speculation, of course.
If that success continues in a Padres uniform is all dependent on if he can consistently hit a Major League fastball and if he has mastered the leg kick he adopted. If he accomplishes both, then it is safe to say that he and Fernando Tatis Jr. will make one of the most exciting young double-play combinations that San Diego hasn’t had in a while.
I am currently attending San Diego State University while working on achieving a major in journalism. At SDSU, I write for The Daily Aztec while also hosting the sports radio show “Picked Off”, for KCR Radio. A loyal fan of San Diego sports, I hope to bring content that you will enjoy reading.
I’m hoping this is the sign that Kinsler will be gone very soon. This should and I believe it will cancel us looking for a new second baseman. Now we need a catcher that can both handle pitchers and hit for average. Hedges will never be MLB hitter and I don’t believe Mejia is the answer defensively. Margot is coming around in center lately. If Urias lights it up the next couple of weeks I hope Preller does not trade him unless its coupled with ridding ourselves of Myers and his maronic contract.