Jose Urena

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Miami Marlins #4 prospect in 2015
  Originally signed for $52,000, Urena capped his 2013 season with a solid second half as a starter at high Class A Jupiter. He teamed with lefty Justin Nicolino in 2014 to give Double-A Jacksonville a pair of aces in the Suns' Southern League championship season, ranking second in the league to Nicolino in wins (13) and WHIP (1.14) while also ranking second in strikeouts (121). Urena's fastball/changeup combination is reminiscent of ex-Marlins reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly Leo Nunez). His plus fastball can sit at 94-95 mph, bumping 96, while his plus changeup is firm in the upper 80s with run and sink. Though his delivery is on the funky side, Urena repeats it and generally doesn't have issues controlling the strike zone, though below-average command makes him more hittable than his stuff suggests. Once Urena started trusting his stuff, he was able to get over a slow start in 2014 (6.66 ERA in April). His breaking ball, a hard slider, remains below-average but has its moments, and it remains the biggest obstacle to him missing more bats. The Marlins will have to decide whether Urena is a starter or a reliever. He has expressed a desire to keep starting, and the Marlins for the time appear willing to accommodate him, aware that patience now could yield a bigger payoff later. Don't be surprised to see Urena make his big league debut in relief sometime in 2015.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #7 prospect in 2014
  The Marlins have brought Urena along cautiously since signing him for $52,000 in 2008. After using him in a tandem starter arrangement for much of 2012, they finally let him loose last year and he logged a career-high 150 innings at high Class A Jupiter. Urena has a loose, live arm and plus arm strength, and he pounds the zone with easy 92-94 mph heat, touching 96-97 on occasion. He'll also subtract from his fastball to keep hitters off-balance. His best pitch is his changeup, which breaks hard and down like a splitter, eliciting plenty of swings and misses. Urena's slider, while improved, is still a modest third pitch. It has good spin when it's on but lacks consistency. He has just enough funk in his delivery to add a touch of deception. His pitch selection is often poor and he has survived to this point largely on pure stuff. He also lacks the stamina to maintain his velocity deep into starts. A diligent student who works with enthusiasm, he fields his position cleanly and holds runners well. Urena will advance to Double-A Jacksonville in 2014, where he'll continue to work on his endurance and breaking stuff. How they progress could dictate his future role. Neither shortcoming would hinder him much in the bullpen, which is where many observers see him winding up.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #8 prospect in 2013
  After signing for $52,000 in 2008, Urena spent two seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before finally reaching the United States in 2011. The Marlins took a cautious approach in his first year in full-season ball, piggybacking him and Austin Brice in the Greensboro rotation in the first half of 2012. Urena has a loose, live arm and a lean, projectable frame. He fills the strike zone with fastballs that sit at 94-96 mph and touch 98. His heater is explosive at times but flat at others. His slider gives him a second potential plus pitch, though it too lacks consistency. It has good tilt and life when it's on, but his arm often comes through late, causing it to flatten. He mixes in an occasional curveball to keep hitters off balance. He sells his straight changeup with fastball arm speed, and it can become an average offering if he can soften it up. Urena's control is better than his command at this stage. He's not yet able to consistently hit his targets within the strike zone, particularly inside on hitters. He works with enthusiasm and a smile. If Urena's slider and command become more reliable, he could reach his ceiling of a No. 2 or 3 starter. He's still raw and will progress slowly for now, with high Class A his next stop.
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  Ranked Miami Marlins #11 prospect in 2012
  The Marlins inked Urena in 2008 for what appears to be a bargain at $52,000. After spending two seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League, the lean righthander made his U.S. debut last summer and ranked as the No. 5 prospect in the New York-Penn League. Urena has a nice, loose arm action and a projectable frame. He throws his fastball at 92-94 mph with good life, running it up to 96-97 at times. He'll flash a plus slider on occasion, but it lacks consistent depth and he doesn't get enough swings and misses with it yet. He has a good feel for his changeup, but it too has a ways to progress. Some nights he looks unhittable, and on others he gets caught up trying to overthrow and loses his command. In addition to the usual trials on the field, Urena is still dealing with a significant language barrier. He improved at holding runners and fielding his position last summer. He's a competitor who's not afraid to show a little animation on the hill. Urena should get his first taste of full-season ball this spring at Greensboro.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #5 prospect in 2011
  After signing the lanky Urena for $52,000, the Marlins developed him in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League for two years. He jumped to the NY-P in his U.S. debut this summer and established himself as one of the organization's top prospects. Urena has long arms and a loose, projectable frame. He already flashes premium velocity, sitting easily at 92-93 mph and touching 97. Like most young pitchers, Urena needs to improve his fastball command and refine his secondary stuff. His curveball has a chance to be a plus pitch, he flashes an average slider and his changeup is improving. He has a good mound presence and a decent feel for pitching for his age.

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: After signing for $52,000 in 2008, Urena spent two seasons in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League before finally reaching the United States in 2011. The Marlins took a cautious approach in his first year in full-season ball, piggybacking him and Austin Brice in the Greensboro rotation in the first half of 2012. Scouting Report: Urena has a loose, live arm and a lean, projectable frame. He fills the strike zone with fastballs that sit at 94-96 mph and touch 98. His heater is explosive at times but flat at others. His slider gives him a second potential plus pitch, though it too lacks consistency. It has good tilt and life when it's on, but his arm often comes through late, causing it to flatten. He mixes in an occasional curveball to keep hitters off balance. He sells his straight changeup with fastball arm speed, and it can become an average offering if he can soften it up. Urena's control is better than his command at this stage. He's not yet able to consistently hit his targets within the strike zone, particularly inside on hitters. He works with enthusiasm and a smile. The Future: If Urena's slider and command become more reliable, he could reach his ceiling of a No. 2 or 3 starter. He's still raw and will progress slowly for now, with high Class A his next stop.