Dodgers’ Julio Urias to undergo shoulder surgery

Dodgers’ lefty Julio Urias will undergo anterior capsule surgery on his left shoulder and miss 12-14 months, according to the team. There is a chance he will re-join the team in the majors before the end of the 2018 season.

Urias, who turns 21 this August, struggled to a 5.40 ERA in five major-league outings with L.A. this season, being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City and working to a 2.59 ERA in 31.1 minor-league innings. He figured to factor into the team’s major-league plans later this season, but experienced shoulder discomfort throughout his time in the minors before being recommended for surgery.

Urias, the Dodgers’ top prospect last season, pitched to a 3.39 ERA and 9.8 K/9 as a 19-year old in 2016. Los Angeles is in relatively good shape to deal with his extended loss, as the club has Clayton Kershaw, Brandon McCarthy, Rich Hill, Alex Wood, Hyun-jin Ryu, Kenta Maeda and Scott Kazmir as experienced options on the depth chart.

Urias still figures to be a long-term option in the Dodgers’ rotation, joining young stars Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger and top prospects Yadier Alvarez, Alex Verdugo, Willie Calhoun and Walker Buehler as the organization’s projected future stars. While his extended absence is a devastating one, the obvious hope is that he will be able to rehab the shoulder and enjoy a long, successful major-league career.