Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

The Angels signed Urena and his elite arm strength for $140,000 a couple of months into the 2020-21 international signing period, which didn’t begin until January 2021 because of the pandemic. A minor arm issue kicked his professional debut until 2022, when he showed the ability to miss bats (and the plate) in the Arizona Complex League. It was much of the same with a push to full-season ball in 2023, though a change in his repertoire may have him pointing in the right direction.

For much of the 2023 season, Urena was showing off his upper-90s fastball that touches triple digits to go along with his solid changeup and fringy slider, and little idea of where any of it was going. A switch to a two-seamer, a sinking fastball still with elite velocity made a huge difference as a pitch he could command more consistently, and he put up much better numbers late in the year. His mid-80s changeup has good fade and is still his best secondary offering, while his low-80s slider did improve some over the course of the year.

From the start of July through the end of the season, Urena cut his walk rate to 4.2 per nine innings, a huge improvement from his 7.7 rate in 2022 and what he had managed for the first half of 2023. There’s still a question of whether he can start long-term, with improvement of his breaking ball another key component. But if his command keeps trending in this direction, things could really click.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Part of a potentially robust 2020-21 international signing class, Urena signed with the Angels for $140,000 in March 2021, just over two months after the delayed period opened. He wasn’t able to make his debut that summer because of a minor arm issue, but threw well in Dominican instructs that fall. When he pitched well in extended spring training last year, the Angels felt comfortable in letting him make his debut stateside, where he missed a ton of bats and walked a ton of guys in the Arizona Complex League.

Urena is all about arm strength, coming from an undersized 6-foot frame. His fastball sat 97-98 mph and he touched 102 in the ACL last year. He backs it up with a changeup that flashes above average, a mid-80s offspeed offering with good fade. He has a slider, thrown in the low 80s, but it’s fringy at best and is a distant third pitch.

Developing that breaking ball and finding the strike zone more consistently are necessary for Urena to find success as he moves up the ladder. He doesn’t need pinpoint command to get outs because of his premium raw stuff, but he walked 7.7 per nine innings during his debut. The Angels love his makeup and they’ll let him start to work on the points of emphasis above, but a move to the bullpen eventually shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

The delayed 2020-21 international signing period is shaping up to be a potentially fruitful one for the Angels. It was headlined by Denzer Guzman, who signed for $2 million right when the period opened in January 2021. Edgar Quero followed about a month later, signing for $200,000, and both are in the Angels’ Top 10. Urena, who got $140K at the end of March 2021 is looking like he has the raw ingredients during his professional debut this summer to join his classmates.

While he’s just 6 feet tall, Urena has big stuff, with the potential to have an electric three-pitch mix. It all starts with his premium fastball that has touched triple-digits and has sat in the 95-97 mph range in the Arizona Complex League. His best secondary pitch is his 83-87 mph changeup, which has good fade and flashes above-average. His low-80s slider is still a work in progress.

Just 18, Urena is working on finding the strike zone more consistently, but the Angels feel he has the chance to have decent command because of his athleticism and clean arm action on the mound. He has a long way to go, but he’s trending up. With his stuff, he could join Guzman and Quero closer to the top of this list in the future.

Awards

CAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/27/2023

ACL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
07/03/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/24/2024	Tri-City Dust Devils activated RHP Walbert Urena from the 7-day injured list.
	07/11/2024	Tri-City Dust Devils placed RHP Walbert Urena on the 7-day injured list.
	04/02/2024	RHP Walbert Urena assigned to Tri-City Dust Devils from Inland Empire 66ers.
	03/07/2024	Los Angeles Angels Prospects activated RHP Walbert Urena.
	02/09/2024	Los Angeles Angels invited non-roster RHP Walbert Urena to spring training.
	04/04/2023	RHP Walbert Urena assigned to Inland Empire 66ers from ACL Angels.
	09/28/2022	RHP Walbert Urena and assigned to Angels Organization.
	06/06/2022	RHP Walbert Urena assigned to ACL Angels.
	05/12/2021	RHP Walbert Urena assigned to DSL Angels.
	03/31/2021	Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Walbert Urena to a minor league contract.