What a way to close out spring training for Astros pitcher Jose Urquidy.
In his last Grapefruit League start Thursday, Urquidy pitched five perfect innings against the Cardinals, striking out four of the 15 straight batters he retired.
It was by far his best start of the spring and the first time Urquidy can remember since at least his time in the minors that he retired the opposing team’s first 15 batters. Though spring training results are not taken too seriously, Urquidy still sees the importance in finishing strong.
“My stuff was very good,” Urquidy said. “Trying to command all my stuff on the corners, up in the zone, some offspeed on the floor, and I was very focused on doing that. I think this outing was very good for me.”
It was a huge positive for Urquidy to make his last start his best, considering he will be relied upon for stability in the volatile Astros’ rotation.
Urquidy is a lock to start, but he’s one of the few stretched-out starters Houston will have. Zack Greinke – who Dusty Baker plans to start on Opening Day – and Lance McCullers Jr. are the other starting pitchers who haven’t dealt with significant absences this spring, other than Greinke missing some time for a personal matter.
Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia missed important chunks of time after being exposed to COVID-19. Jake Odorizzi just made his first Grapefruit League start Wednesday after being acquired March 8, and he’s not planning on making his regular-season debut until Houston’s first homestand.
Framber Valdez is rehabbing a fractured left ring finger, and when he does get cleared to pitch, it’ll take time to build up his pitch count and get ready to return to action. To top it off, Justin Verlander is still recovering from Tommy John surgery and isn’t expected to pitch this season.
With all the unpredictability, it’s been refreshing for Houston – and for Urquidy – that he was able to go through spring like normal.
“I feel the beginning of spring training I was getting in shape, my body, throwing a lot for my shoulder (and) my elbow,” Urquidy said. “Right now, I feel in shape. I think I’m gonna be 100 percent ready for the season in the beginning.”
Urquidy’s spring started slow. He allowed eight hits and six runs in eight innings, and his ERA ballooned to 6.75 after his first three starts.
But Thursday was a nice change of pace. He commanded his pitches well and even fooled Tyler O’Neill – one of this spring’s hottest hitters – on a slider for a strikeout in the fifth.
Urquidy said he could’ve kept going considering his pitch count was low through five innings, but knowing other pitchers still need to work (Brandon Bielak got a four-inning save in relief), he understood the decision to take him out, Still, Baker was more than happy to see Urquidy’s performance.
“I’ve always been impressed with Urquidy,” Baker said. “He goes about his business, no fanfare, no clowning, no nothing. … I mean, that was an outstanding job.”
Under club control through 2025, Urquidy figures to be a mainstay in the rotation for at least the next few years. Urquidy missed the first month of 2020 because of COVID-19, so he only managed five starts in the regular season. He then posted a 4.02 ERA in four appearances for the Astros in the postseason.
But Urquidy broke out in 2019, punctuating it by throwing five scoreless innings in Game 4 of the World Series against the Nationals. Houston will rely on him to help stabilize a rotation that still has some question marks.
If what he was able to do Thursday is any indication, Urquidy should have no issues bringing back some stability when the regular season begins.
“I was really focused on having a good outing today. Last couple outings didn’t go exactly how I wanted them to go, so I wanted this one to be good,” Urquidy said through a translator. “I feel good about where I’m at right now. Ready for the first real start (of the season) next week sometime, and we’ll go with everything from there.”
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March 26, 2021 at 09:06AM
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