Sunday, August 24, 2025

Mexico’s Julio Urías leads MLB pitchers with 19 wins this season

Los Angles Dodgers pitcher and Sinaloa native Julio Urías is close to being crowned the most successful Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher of 2021, now on 19 wins after his team defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. “El Culichi,” as he is known by fans, would be the first Mexican to hold that record.

Urías, 25, has a three-win lead over Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees and Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals, both of whom are tied for second.

The southpaw was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and moved to the United States in his youth after being scouted and signed by the Dodgers on his 16th birthday.

He has only lost three games so far this season, making him one of the most effective pitchers in MLB. He is also one of the best pitchers in MLB when it comes to hitting.

Urías said that given the choice, he would opt for honors in the pitching department despite his fondness for batting. “Obviously I like hitting. I’ve always talked about how much I like hitting,” he said.

“We have a competition among ourselves and it’s something that’s very important to me. I was able to contribute, which is really great … reaching 20 wins [as a pitcher] would be a dream come true and something I’m really striving for,” he added.

The pitcher has one more series to hit the 20 mark when the Dodgers face the Milwaukee Brewers on October 2. Then the Dodgers will face the San Francisco Giants in the playoffs.

Another Mexican pitcher won more games in a season than Urías’ 19, but fell short of being the best pitcher that year. In 1986, Fernando Valenzuela from Etchohuaquila, Sonora, racked up 21 wins with the Dodgers, but was edged out by Roger Clemens of the Boston Red Sox, who ended the season with 24 wins.

Urías was one of two Mexican pitchers who helped the Dodgers win last year’s World Series. He and Víctor González pitched in the Dodgers’ 3-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the final game of the series in Arlington, Texas.

With reports from Infobae

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
The Angel of Independence on Reforma Avenue in Mexico City

Mexico’s week in review: Booming foreign investment, U.S. political tension and new cultural initiatives

0
Highlights of the week of August 25 in Mexico included shifts in the Mexican business landscape and tense international diplomacy.
News quiz

The MND News Quiz of the Week: August 23rd

0
Dr. Simi, digital banking and direct flights: Have you been following the news this week?
five people standing in a row

Over 30,000 new street cameras will make CDMX the most monitored city in the Americas

0
The new cameras will increase the city's total by 36% and include state-of-the-art smart poles with a 360-degree view.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity