Julio Urías' family gathers around a TV in Culiacán every time he pitches. They pray for the Dodgers ace who overcame eye surgeries to become a star.
Carlos Urías has a routine before watching every one of his son’s starts: He plugs in aLa Virgen was bright on a recent Sunday morning, colorfully illuminating the dim white space. A few minutes after 10, before
He’s the ace on a team with the best record in the majors and World Series-or-bust ethos, starring in Los Angeles as the most beloved Mexican Dodger sinceDodgers pitcher Julio Urías has undergone surgery on his left eye more than 10 times, most recently in 2015. It’s where he plans to conclude his career, pitching for the Tomateros de Culiacán in the Mexican winter league, and to invest some of his earnings. It’s where he wants to help the people whenever possible. It’s where his family will remain.The Urías family gathers in their living room to watch Julio’s starts, inviting relatives and friends, whenever possible.
Repeated, less invasive, surgeries would be required to keep the eye open. The stress prompted the couple to wait to have another child. Six years later, Carlos Jr. was born.Julio’s grandfather owned the nine-person household’s only car, so Julio and his father would take a 12-hour bus ride to Guadalajara for surgeries whenever the eye was sealing shut. Doctors tied his hands down after surgery so he wouldn’t remove the patch or the IV in his arm.
“I don’t look at it as bad because it doesn’t impede me from anything. I do everything normal like anyone else. That’s how I look at it.”There was one place Julio didn’t mind being different: for a few hours Sunday on a baseball field, where he was better than everyone else. “My son was younger than Julio so he would play on the field next to his,” said Carlos Rubio, a local businessman who owns a Dodgers-themed barbershop in the city. “And every time Julio was pitching or hitting, I had to watch. He was a phenom.”Julio’s dominance earned him spots on national teams, and he represented Mexico in international tournaments in Central America, South America and United States.
The left-hander spent his first full professional season in 2013 pitching for low-A Great Lakes where he was nearly six years younger than the league’s average player. Two years later, while pitching for double-A Tulsa, he underwent another eye surgery. He was back on the mound in two months. He hasn’t had an eye operation since.
Julio bounced between the majors and minors the rest of the season, posting a 3.39 ERA in 15 starts and three relief appearances. He pitched in two playoff games, but the Dodgers had him open the next season in extended spring training hoping to alleviate his workload. The decision irked him. Urías and the woman denied the incident was more than a verbal altercation, but authorities reviewed surveillance footage and ruled the woman had been pushed.
The Urías family house originally had two bedrooms and a bathroom inside. The kitchen and dining room were outside on a dirt floor. Julio shared a bedroom with his parents and two siblings — the other bedroom was filled with supplies for the neighborhood’s plumbing system — until he left for the minor leagues.
They point to the widespread construction, a sign of a city outgrowing its backwoods stereotype. They proudly talk about their food — the barbacoa, the chilorio, and, above all, the mariscos. They share a love for banda music and their celebrated brand of sushi, a breaded twist on the Japanese staple filled with Philadelphia cream cheese. There are people going to school and working hard and living ordinary lives.
“It’s a dream come true for me and my family. I’ve always wanted to help my community, and to do that where my grandfather played is special.”Julio remembered attending school with his shoes and uniform muddied in the rain. He envisioned an upgraded baseball facility — with grass — for children. As a newly crowned World Series hero, he recognized he had some sway, so he asked the governor if he could have the roads paved and the field remodeled. The governor agreed.
What should’ve been a routine procedure to remove his appendix became a 21-day stay between two hospitals because of an infection. Julio was in Atlanta, hours from pitching against the Braves, when his family called. Carlos Jr. was scheduled for another surgery. They told Julio to say goodbye to his brother, just in case.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Julio Rodríguez makes more history as Mariners top Padres 6-1Julio Rodríguez continued to strengthen his rookie of the year campaign with his fourth leadoff home run of the season, Eugenio Suárez and Carlos Santana both added homers, and the Seattle Mariners beat the San Diego Padres 6-1 on Wednesday. FOX13
Les mer »
Another Diamondbacks debut thwarts punchless PadresDrey Jameson becomes second Arizona pitcher in 10 days to throw seven shutout innings against Padres
Les mer »
'It’s World Series or nothing:' Anything short of another Dodgers title will be viewed as a failureThe Dodgers are the National League West champions for the ninth time in the last 10 seasons. But if their postseason concludes with anything but another World Series Title, this season would be viewed as a failure, writes BNightengale
Les mer »
Kershaw, Dodgers win another NL West title, blank D-backsClayton Kershaw pitched seven dominant innings and the Dodgers won the NL West for the ninth time in 10 seasons, blanking the Diamondbacks 4-0 Tuesday night.
Les mer »