Julio Urías primarily relies on his fastball, which he throws at varying speeds and movement patterns to keep hitters off balance. He mixes a four-seam fastball with a sinking two-seam fastball, using different velocities and locations to induce ground balls or strikeouts.
Urías's changeup is one of his most effective secondary pitches. He utilizes this off-speed offering to disrupt hitters' timing and deceive them with its late movement and downward action. Urías often locates his changeup low in the strike zone, aiming to induce weak contact or swings and misses.
Another key component of Urías's pitch selection is his curveball, which serves as a complementary off-speed pitch to his fastball-changeup combination. He uses his curveball to change the eye level of hitters and generate swings and misses, often locating it below the strike zone or on the outer edges to induce ground balls or strikeouts.
Julio Urías also incorporates a slider into his pitch repertoire, providing him with a versatile breaking pitch to keep hitters guessing. He varies the velocity and location of his slider, using it as a swing-and-miss pitch or a backdoor option to catch hitters off guard, particularly against right-handed batters.
Urías's effectiveness on the mound stems from his ability to sequence his pitches effectively and create deception through pitch tunneling. He strategically mixes his fastball, changeup, curveball, and slider to keep hitters guessing and disrupt their timing, often using one pitch to set up another for maximum impact.
Julio Urías demonstrates strong command and precision with his pitches, often hitting his spots with consistency. He frequently targets the lower part of the strike zone and the corners of the plate, aiming to induce ground balls, weak contact, or swings and misses by exploiting hitters' weaknesses and tendencies.
Against right-handed hitters, Urías tends to utilize his breaking pitches more frequently, including his slider and curveball, to exploit their vulnerabilities. Conversely, against left-handed hitters, he may rely more on his fastball-changeup combination, focusing on changing speeds and locations to keep them off balance.
Julio Urías's success with his pitch selection and location tendencies is also influenced by his confidence and execution on the mound. He trusts his stuff and isn't afraid to challenge hitters in key situations, demonstrating poise and composure under pressure to execute his pitches with precision and effectiveness.