Jose Urbina

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #15 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: In the 1990s and 2000s, teams often spent big to sign the best arms in Latin America. But after high-priced arm after high-priced arm failed to make it to the major leagues, the approach changed. Now, even the best international pitchers don’t come close to matching the bonuses handed out to the top hitters. But even considering that, Urbina is an unusual case. He signed with the Rays for $210,000 out of Venezuela in January 2023, but he’s already one of the team’s most promising pitching prospects.
  
  Scouting Report: When teams were scouting Urbina, he was an athletic, well-built righthander with a clean delivery and a fast arm, but he maxed out at 90 mph. There was a hope that he’d add more velocity, but it would have been hard to expect it would happen this quickly. The Rays skipped the polished Urbina over the Dominican Summer League, and he debuted as a 17-year-old in the Florida Complex League. While his statistics weren’t particularly impressive, he showed some of the best stuff and feel in the league. Urbina sits in the mid 90s and touches 97 mph with a potentially plus fastball with above-average life. He also spins a future plus curveball and will flash feel for his still-developing changeup.
  
  The Future: For years, the Rays seemed to produce front-line starters at will, but at present there are few pitchers in the system who the organization projects as even midrotation starters. Urbina has arguably the highest upside of any of them. His athleticism, clean delivery and feel for spinning a breaking ball to go with rapidly improving velocity makes him an arm to watch.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45