Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

Urbina presented a truly unique scouting situation for the Rays. When they began scouting the Venezuelan right-hander, who pitched in showcases and tryouts in Colombia, they liked what they saw but weren’t necessarily blown away by his 88-90 mph fastball. Then he took off like a rocket ship, running his fastball 94-98 mph by the Rays’ last look leading up to international signing day in 2023. He signed for a $210,000 bonus -- well below what the top international prospects got -- and could wind up being a huge success story for the Rays.

The Rays believed in Urbina so much that even at age 17 with no professional experience, they had him bypass the Dominican Summer League to pitch stateside in the Florida Complex League. The results were middling, with a 5.32 ERA and 21 strikeouts against 12 walks in 23 2/3 innings over 11 outings, but again, he was 17. Urbina still has the big-time stuff of a power starter, which is rare to find in someone his age: the mid-90s fastball, a sweeping breaking ball that looked at times like a plus offering and a changeup that also occasionally flashed plus.

But there is, of course, a ton of uncertainty regarding Urbina’s future, especially given the hit rate on international pitchers. The 18-year-old didn't prove himself at the complex level, like fellow Rays prospect Santiago Suarez, during his first go, and his results have been similarly just OK in his age-18 season in 2024. He could live up to his potential as a starter, or he could eventually transition to the bullpen as a hard-throwing reliever. But Urbina is young and powerful with a ton of upside, and it bodes well for him that the Rays were so aggressive with his initial assignment.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50 | Overall: 40

When the Rays began scouting Urbina, a Venezuelan pitcher who got on the mound for showcases and tryouts in Colombia, they knew he would be good. They just didn’t expect him to be so good so quickly. The right-hander was throwing his fastball at 88-90 mph in his early looks, then his stuff exploded. The last time the Rays evaluated him before international signing day, Urbina was throwing his heater at 94-98 mph. Thus, Urbina could wind up being the steal of Tampa Bay’s Jan. 15 class as he joined the organization for a $210,000 bonus.

If his velocity gains stick, Urbina’s mid-to-upper 90s fastball will be his biggest draw and the reason he climbs up this list. But the Rays are intrigued by the whole package he presents. He throws strikes, works hard, competes well and has the ingredients of a power starter. He showed feel for a slider from a start, and the sweeping, two-plane breaker looked like a plus pitch in his late looks. He also quickly developed a changeup that flashed plus at times.

Perhaps the greatest sign of the Rays’ belief in Urbina is that he’s likely to begin his first professional season in the Florida Complex League, bypassing the Dominican Summer League, which is rare for an international prospect in his pro debut. The Rays already evaluated him in game scenarios before signing him and liked what they saw. Of course, he has to prove himself in affiliated competition, and it’s a relatively low rate of success for international pitchers making it to the Majors. But Urbina looks like the top international amateur arm signed by the Rays in 2023, and there was a lot of buzz around him entering the year.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	08/13/2024	RHP Jose Urbina assigned to Charleston RiverDogs from FCL Rays.
	06/05/2023	RHP Jose Urbina assigned to FCL Rays.
	01/15/2023	RHP Jose Urbina assigned to DSL Rays.
	01/15/2023	Tampa Bay Rays signed free agent RHP Jose Urbina to a minor league contract.
	01/15/2023	DSL Tampa Bay activated RHP Jose Urbina.