Julio Urias brushes off talk of future with Dodgers after first spring start

Glendale, Ariz. — Sure, it was his first start of spring training, but Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias couldn’t avoid the topic of his contract and future in the City of Angels on Tuesday.

Urias, who pitched 2.2 innings on Tuesday against the Cincinnati Reds at Camelback Ranch and allowed one run on four hits in a 7-1 loss, has one more scheduled start with the Dodgers before he leaves to join Team Mexico for the World Baseball Classic.

He reached his 40-pitch limit against the Reds, putting him on track for not only WBC duty but also the start of the regular season as well.

“I don’t think there’s a focus on getting to a certain number of innings,” Urias said. “I was more pitch-conscious today, trying to get to 40 pitches in the second inning. We got to 30 and then had 10 more to play with in that third inning, so that’s where we are at.”

Julio Urias talks contract, future with Los Angeles Dodgers

Where the 26-year-old southpaw is at, however, in his contract situation is a matter of as much interest for Dodgers fans as his pitch count in spring. When asked about it, Urias, who is signed through the end of the 2023 season on a one-year, $14.25 million deal, shrugged it off.

“The focus is on the fifth start and getting ready for that start in five days,” Urias said. “I’m going to put my focus into that. Obviously, there is a lot of stuff going around, but I’m going to leave that to my agent and to the team.”

Urias is coming off a season where he finished third in the National League Cy Young balloting after going 17-7 with a NL-leading 2.16 ERA and 194 ERA+. He is expected to be at the front of the Dodgers rotation this season, joining fellow left-hander Clayton Kershaw to form a powerful 1-2 punch for Los Angeles.