Richard Urena

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2018
  Urena signed for $725,000 as a 16-year-old in 2012 and made steady progress up through high Class A Dunedin. He reached Double-A New Hampshire at the end of 2016 and struggled there, then posted another sub-.300 OBP season with the Fisher Cats again in 2017. Urena made his major league debut as a September callup. Urena was a 21-year-old shortstop in Double-A, so while he was one of the youngest players at the level, he seemed to hit an offensive wall. He has fast hands and has shown solid bat control throughout his career, but his overaggressive approach got him in trouble in 2017. He's not a total free-swinger, but he needs to develop a better plan to get into better counts and increase his OBP. Urena hasn't shown much power, though he has more extra-base sock from the left side. A below-average runner, his pure range is just adequate for shortstop, but he has good anticipation off the bat and can make acrobatic plays with a plus arm. Urena has a chance to be a steady regular in the middle of the diamond, but his offensive performance will have to rebound to the levels he showed prior to 2017. He will head to Triple-A in 2018.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #6 prospect in 2017
  The Blue Jays signed Urena for $725,000 in 2012 and have kept him after trading other top international shortstops, such as Franklin Barreto (Athletics) or Dawel Lugo (Diamondbacks). Urena reached Double-A New Hampshire but wore out at the end of the season, finishing 4-for-37. When he first got to Double-A, Urena showed his ceiling, which could be an above-average offensive player with average defense at shortstop. He has a feel for hitting with an aggressive approach, quick wrists and solid strength that produces solid-average power from the left side. He hasn't shown much righthanded pop in games the last two seasons, with just 12 extra-base hits from that side in 250 at-bats. Urena slightly improved his walk rate and cut his strikeouts while maintaining solid power production, though he still gives away at-bats swinging at pitchers' pitches. He also makes careless errors too often at short, flipping throws instead of setting his feet and flashing his arm, which is plus at its best. Urena flashes above-average tools in every area but speed but lacks polish and consistency at the plate and in the field. He'll open 2017 back at Double-A, where he finished the 2016 season, and may mix in some second base time with Troy Tulowitzki, signed through 2020, blocking his big league path to shortstop.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #4 prospect in 2016
  Signed for $725,000, Urena had a strong first full season as he ranked second in the organization and third in the low Class A Midwest League in home runs, even though he opened the season as the 10th-youngest player in the MWL. He earned a July promotion to high Class A but went back to Lansing in late August for the Lugnuts' playoff run, which ended in the MWL semifinals. Urena has physical projection remaining but has some whip and strength in his swing already with quick wrists that help him produce solid-average power that he'll get to more if he can improve his strike-zone judgment. In his second year as a switch-hitter, he struggled with his new righthanded swing, batting just .205 from that side with one homer, but the Jays plan to give him more time to work on it. He has the requisite middle-infield tools with smooth actions, soft hands and easy plus arm strength. He became more efficient defensively with just 23 errors in 120 games after committing more than 20 errors each of the two previous years in short-season ball. As he matures physically, he'll slow down to being an average runner if not a tick below, which could push him off shortstop. Urena could benefit from the organization's likely slower promotion path under new team president Mark Shapiro, as he needs to mature physically and mentally. He'll head back to Dunedin for 2016, and with Troy Tulowitzki signed through 2020, he's one of the Jays' best remaining trade chips.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #8 prospect in 2015
  The Blue Jays' lower minors has a talented duo of young, athletic shortstops signed from Latin America in 2011 and 2012: Dawel Lugo and Urena, who netted a $725,000 signing bonus and has the highest chance to stay at shortstop. Urena has the physical ability necessary to remain at shortstop with an arm that is at least plus and has a quick release that can throw from any angle in addition to loose, athletic actions, soft hands and above-average lateral range to both sides. He has quick-twitch athleticism but will need to cut down his defensive miscues to remain at the position after fielding .917 this summer in the Appalachian League. A natural lefthanded hitter, Urena began switch-hitting this year and impressed evaluators with his bat. He has above-average bat speed with an easy stroke, and he works inside the ball with the ability to consistently drive the ball to the gaps and opposite field. His power projects to be below-average with 6-10 home runs and lots of doubles. He is an average to above-average runner out of the box who could slow to average. Urena could be a two-way contributor and could challenge for a spot with a full-season club after being a top offensive performer in the Appy League this summer.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #24 prospect in 2014
  Urena signed out of the Dominican for $725,000 in 2012, had a strong showing in the Dominican Summer League and made a brief debut stateside in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last year. With quick-twitch athleticism, smooth actions, above-average range and soft hands, Urena coule be an above-average defensive shortstop. He has above-average arm strength, a quick release and can throw from any angle. Naturally quicker than fast, he has average straight-line speed and could steal 10 or more bases annually. He has a long, lean and athletic physique with strong legs and a tapered waist. While Urena's glove is his carrying tool, he has the chance to contribute offensively. He has an unusual set-up, as his hands load very low (about halfway between his shoulders and waist), but he has natural feel for the barrel. He has a good feel for the strike zone. Urena has a tendency to open his hips early, which leaves him susceptible to offspeed stuff away. He has below-average raw power but can drive the ball to the gaps, especially to left-center. Urena will likely open 2014 in extended spring training before reporting to a Rookie-level club.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked American League #3 prospect in 2014
  One of three prominent shortstop prospects working his way through the lower rungs of the Blue Jays system, Urena signed for $725,000 the same years as Franklin Barreto and one year after Dawel Lugo. A natural lefthanded hitter, Urena began switch-hitting this spring and impressed with his bat. He has above-average bat speed with an easy stroke, and he works inside the ball with the ability to consistently drive the ball to the opposite field. He still is working to make his load and stride more consistent, having used a few different strides this season, but he has natural feel for the barrel. His gap-to-gap power projects to fringe-average. The athletic Urena has all the physical attributes to remain at shortstop, but he will need to cut down on his defensive miscues after logging a .917 fielding percentage that was one of the lowest of all qualified shortstops. But he has quick-twitch athleticism and smooth actions in addition to a plus arm with a quick release. He is an average to tick better runner who will need to improve his basestealing efficiency after stealing at a 55.5 percent clip.

• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Urena signed for $725,000 as a 16-year-old in 2012 and made steady progress up through high Class A Dunedin. He reached Double-A New Hampshire at the end of 2016 and struggled there, then struggled with the Fisher Cats again in 2017. He made his major league debut as a September callup. Scouting Report: Urena was a 21-year-old shortstop in Double-A, so while he was one of the youngest players at the level, he seemed to hit an offensive wall. He has fast hands and has shown solid bat control throughout his career, but his overaggressive approach got him in trouble in 2017. He's not a total free-swinger, but he needs to develop a better plan to get into better counts. Urena hasn't shown much power, though he has more extra-base sock from the left side. A below-average runner, his pure range is just adequate for shortstop, but he has good anticipation off the bat and a plus arm. The Future: Urena has a chance to be a steady regular in the middle of the diamond, but his offensive performance will have to rebound to the levels he showed prior to 2017. He will head to Triple-A in 2018.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: The Blue Jays signed Urena for $725,000 in 2012 and have kept him after trading other top international shortstops, such as Franklin Barreto (Athletics) or Dawel Lugo (Diamondbacks). Urena reached Double-A New Hampshire but wore out at the end of the season, finishing 4-for-37. Scouting Report: When he first got to Double-A, Urena showed his ceiling, which could be an above-average offensive player with average defense at shortstop. He has a feel for hitting with an aggressive approach, quick wrists and solid strength that produces solid-average power from the left side. He hasn't shown much righthanded pop in games the last two seasons, with just 12 extra-base hits from that side in 250 at-bats. Urena slightly improved his walk rate and cut his strikeouts while maintaining solid power production, though he still gives away at-bats swinging at pitchers' pitches. He also makes careless errors too often at short, flipping throws instead of setting his feet and flashing his arm, which is plus at its best. The Future: Urena flashes above-average tools in every area but speed but lacks polish and consistency at the plate and in the field. He'll open 2017 back at Double-A and may mix in some second base time with Troy Tulowitzki blocking his big league path to shortstop.