Urbina was signed this past year as a 16-year old international free agent. Reports are that he is already “hitting 90”, but that’s what everybody says about everybody, including their grandmother.
The same experts have said that he was the top pitcher to come out of the international kiddie signing day. In the past, the Mets used to start these newbies off in Latin America, but not anymore. Watch for him to debit in Florida with the GCL Mets.
7-2-09 from: - http://myworldofbaseball.com/wordpress/?cat=42 - The international signings have begun, with the first salvo reported by the New York Mets.
According to http://www.baseballprospectus.com/unfiltered/?p=1327 the Mets have signed Juan Urbina to a bonus of over $1 million. Juan Urbina is the son of Ugueth Urbina who has a fastball that sits at 88-89 but reaches 91. As he matures and gets stronger that fastball should increase in velocity. He also has a curveball that is advanced for his age per Baseball America. For those of you who may not remember, Ugueth had his major league baseball career interrupted because of an incident in the Dominican Republic. In 2007 he began serving a 14 year old jail sentence when he attacked five workers on his farm with a machete and poured gasoline on them. He contended that the workers were trying to blackmail him for money with these false allegations. By the time he gets out of prison his son should have his major league future mapped.
6-23-10: - Last year’s big 16-year old international signee, SP Juan Urbina, debuted yesterday for the GCL Mets and done well. His stats were impressive: 5.0-IP, 2-H, 0-ER, 0-R, 3-K, 1-BB. He turned 17 last month. Everybody says this kid is going to be the real deal, but we’ll just have to wait four more years… when he turns 21! Urbina is already hitting the low 90’s and we’ll keep a special look out on him throughout the season.
6-30-10: - Super-prospect Juan Urbina continues to impress at the GCL-level. On Monday, Urbina tossed: 4.2-IP, 1-ER, 6-K and finished the day with a seasonal 0.93 ERA for his first two starts.
8-5-10: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/8/5/1606179/2010-top-20-new-york-mets -Juan Urbina, LHP, Grade C: 5.76 ERA with 28/11 K/BB in 30 innings in rookie ball, 32 hits. Just 17 years old, much too early to conclude anything.
8-5-10: - Stock Up – Urbina had another great outing yesterday, going 5.2-IP, 0-ER, 3-K, 0-BB, 4-H. Remember, he’s only 17. His ERA is high (4.84), but that’s due to three horrendous outings where he gave up 16-ER in 10.0-IP. His other eight outings produced 3-ER in 25.1-IP.
In 2010, Urbina pitched for the GCL Mets and faired well for an 18-year old: 5-3, 11-starts, 5.03, 38-K, 14-BB, 48.1-IP.
2011 Forecast: - I can't even imagine what it's like for a kid to come to a brand new country and pitch for the New York Mets. Urbina did exactly what the Mets had hoped for when they signed him and he's one of the top young prospects in the system. The good news is he's blocked pretty solid by the plethora (great Howard Cosell word) of young starters ahead of him, and I'm sure you'll see him as part of the rotation in Brooklyn come the spring.
9-24-10 from: - http://www.nyfuturestars.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33367 - The son of former big league reliever Ugueth Urbina, Juan signed for $1.2 million in July 2009. He made his pro debut in the GCL this summer, and though he posted a 5.03 ERA, there was plenty to like. His fastball currently sits at 89 mph and tops out at 92, but it's easy to think more velocity will come because he has a projectable frame and an easy delivery. He repeats his mechanics well, which also will help him continue to throw strikes. Urbina maintains good arm speed on his changeup, his second-best pitch, which has good sink and fade. He also throws a slider, but it's a work in progress. At times it has sharp, two-plane break, but he gets around it too much, making it more sweepy.
9-28-10 from http://www.metsminorleagueblog.com/2010/09/28/q-a-with-kevin-goldstein-of-baseball-prospectus - He’s younger than most eventual 2011 high school draftees, so my thought on his progress going forward is that he should move forward. I’m guessing that he’ll pitch in Brooklyn next year after another spring in extended, but sure, there’s very real potential here. He could end up with special velocity for a lefty, and his secondary pitches at least show promise. His ceiling is sky high, but the gap between that ceiling and what he is now is the size of the Grand Canyon.
11-24-10 from: - http://www.metsgeek.com/showthread.php?658-Mets-Top-Twenty-Prospects&p=187156 - 7. Juan Urbina. I debated having this kid so high on this list considering no one has really seen him other than scouts. He’s not even old enough to buy smokes in this country. With that said, he already features a plus sinking changeup with great arm action. He key for him is that change up. Best case scenario sees him becoming a top flight starter. Worst case scenario is getting trapped in the lower minors without developing his arsenal. He should start 2011 in extended spring training with a jump up to Brooklyn, Kingsport or Savannah.
12-20-10 from: - http://bleacherreport.com/tb/b7Jdl - Juan Urbina, pitcher – Son of Ugueth. Lefthanded, throws in the low nineties with good control, doesn’t turn eighteen until May. Long way off, so forget about him for a while, but has value as an easily projected prospect.
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