Family first for mourning Julio Urías

BOSTON – The tribute remains on Julio Urías’ blue Dodgers cap, written in white marker on the bottom of the bill of the young lefthander’s cap accompanied by a white cross.

As Urías mourns the maternal grandmother that he considered a second mother, he’ll carry her memory in his heart and the affectionate term he used for his abuela on the bill of his cap during the World Series.

The “Nana” and cross Urías wrote before Game 7 of the National League Championship Series remains on his cap, a reminder of his maternal grandmother Angelita Valencia, who died Friday in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Mourning in Boston

Urías, 22, wishes he could be with his family during this difficult time, but he knows they understand why he cannot join them. As he continues to prepare to play on baseball’s biggest stage, his family will miss the first two games of the World Series at Fenway Park.

Urías’ parents Carlos Alberto and Juana Isabel are back home mourning Valencia.

“I’ve spoken with them a lot,” he said Monday at Fenway Park. “They’ve given me all the support to remain here and push ahead here. I hope to see them soon in Los Angeles, and obviously they’ll serve as double motivation for me.”

Urías’ family will rejoin him in Los Angeles when the best-of-seven Fall Classic resumes at Dodger Stadium for Game 3 on Friday night.

Still close by

Although his family won’t be at Fenway Park, he is sure their presence will be felt, just as Urías felt his grandmother’s presence before he picked up one of the most crucial outs against the Brewers in Game 7 of the NLCS on Saturday night at Miller Park.

Urías is certain that his grandmother would have wanted him to be with his Dodgers teammates during the World Series. His whole family realizes his place is now with his teammates as they attempt to secure the Dodgers’ first title since 1988.

Urías is one of Mexico’s greatest baseball phenoms since Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela made his debut in 1980 and captivated the baseball world in 1981 with Fernandomania.

The lefthanded Urías reached the majors as a starter at 19 in 2016. His promising career was stalled last year, though, when he suffered a left shoulder surgery.

He missed 16 months. He finally returned to the majors this Sept. 15 with an inning of relief and finished the season with four innings over three relief appearances.

“I’d say all the work I’ve done since I was little since I dedicated 100 percent to this at 13 or 14 years old when I dedicated to train daily, I’d say they’ve seen me suffer,” Urías said of his family. “They saw me rejoice in my (big league) debut and they saw me suffer again when I had (shoulder) surgery, and I’d say where we’re at all is good (baseball wise).”

Playoff action

Urías, who earned his first postseason victory at 20 years old in 2016, gave up a home run over one inning of relief in his first appearance of this postseason in Game 1 of the NLCS against the Brewers.

He returned to the mound four days later in the 13th inning of Game 4 and earned the 2-1 victory with one scoreless inning of relief.

The young southpaw pitched another scoreless inning three days later in the Dodgers’ losing effort in Game 6, the night his grandmother died.

“I spoke with my mom the night after Game 6 after we lost,” he said. “That’s the day she died. I spoke with (my mom), and she told me all would be fine and that we would win the next day and perhaps I would be a key piece.

“And, look, the things turned out as she told me. Since I got to the stadium I felt a good vibe. All I asked from God was that my shoulder would feel good because I had pitched the previous day. If they needed me I had never pitched back-to-back in my career. It was the first time, and truly the things turned out (well).”

Urías felt his grandmother’s spirit with him as he carried his special term of endearment for her on the bill of his cap. His shoulder held up Saturday night as he pitched on consecutive days for the first time in his career.

“All that was learned by me from her and her from me remains in my heart,” Urisa said. “I’d say that’s what has me here.”

Even with his family back home mourning his grandmother, Urías is certain that his late grandmother is with him in Boston. He knows he’s not alone. She’s in his heart and on his cap.

Featured Image: La Vida Baseball