Largely unknown outside of the organization entering 2019, Urquidy turned in one of the clutch performances of the year when he spun five shutout innings to win Game 4 of the World Series. He has demonstrated the best control and command in the system since the Astros purchased him from the Mexican League's Mexico City Red Devils for $100,000 in 2015. He missed all of 2017 following Tommy John surgery but raced from Short-Season ball to the big leagues in little more than a year when he returned.
Urquidy's stuff ticked up in his first full year back from elbow reconstruction, and he now works at 92-94 mph and touches 97 with riding life on his four-seam fastball. His best pitch remains his plus changeup with fade that he throws with deceptive arm speed. He was much more effective against left-handers than right-handers in 2019 because he lacks a quality breaking pitch, with his newer slider showing more promise than his softer curveball.
Urquidy doesn't have huge margin for error but usually locates his pitches with precision. Formerly projected as a middle reliever or swingman, he'll open 2020 in Houston's rotation. If he can continue to improve his slider, he could settle in as a No. 3 or 4 starter.
