Walbert Urena

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #17 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
  
  Track Record: Ureña signed for $140,000 two months into the 2021 international signing period, but arm injuries delayed his debut by a year. He gained notoriety by frequently touching 100 mph in the Arizona Complex League in 2022, then showed the same velocity and a deeper arsenal with Low-A Inland Empire in 2023. Issues with walks have hindered his career and continued in 2024. The 20-year-old posted a 4.19 ERA and 15.6% walk rate over 77 innings with High-A Tri-City over 16 starts before a comebacker struck his right foot and ended his season in July.
  
  Scouting Report: Ureña is a wiry, undersized righty with special arm strength and velocity. His fastball sits 95-98 mph and touches 102, while he improved the shape and command of his heater by converting to a two-seam grip in late 2023. He could sit in the triple digits in short stints as he physically matures. Ureña tinkered with multiple breaking ball grips before landing on an inconsistent mid-80s slider that flashes average shape. His mid-to-upper-80s changeup has solid fade and flashes plus shape more consistently than his breaker, though his feel for secondaries needs improvement. Ureña is a fair athlete with an easy, repeatable delivery yet below-average command because of an inconsistent release.
  
  The Future: Ureña’s erratic control likely tickets him for an impact relief role. If he can find a way to throw more strikes along with a more consistent breaking ball, he might have the highest upside of any starter in the Angels system.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #15 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Urena signed for $140,000 two months into the 2021 international signing period, but arm injuries delayed his debut by a year. He raised his stock by regularly touching 100 mph during extended spring training and in the Arizona Complex League in 2022, although walks dogged his performance. Walks continued to hinder his performance with Low-A Inland Empire in 2023 until Urena incorporated a sinker and began throwing more strikes, leading to a 3.68 ERA over his final 13 starts.
  
  Scouting Report: Urena is a lean, undersized righty with special arm strength and velocity. His fastball touches 102 mph and sits 98, but the shape needs work. He added a sinker that sits 94-98 mph and improved his shaky fastball command to fringe-average in the process. Urena could ultimately sit in the triple digits in short stints if he adds strength to his lean frame. He tinkered with multiple grips to find semblance of a real breaking ball, eventually landing on a fringe-average mid-80s slider with depth. His mid-to-upper 80s changeup will flash plus with fade, though the feel for his off-speed needs work. Urena has a basic delivery and shows on-mound athleticism. His control has improved with more reps and confidence throwing strikes, though it may never be better than below-average.
  
  The Future: Urena has to throw more strikes and find a true breaking ball to reach his immense upside, but his premium velocity and small-stature point toward a future as a power reliever.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #14 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Urena received a $140,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic late in the 2021 international signing period and made his presence known with a fastball that regularly hit 100 mph in the Arizona Complex League in his 2022 pro debut. Urena regularly missed bats but also struggled to throw strikes and finished the year with a strong developmental focus on his command and breaking ball at instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Urena is a slight 6-foot righthander but possesses premium velocity and arm strength. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and frequently touches 100. His best secondary pitch is an above-average mid-80's changeup with late fade. Urena lacks a real breaking ball and constantly tinkers with multiple grips and hand positions to try and find one. He flashes a true, mid-80s slider in side sessions but has yet to find it in games. Urena has well below-average control, although he does work around the zone. He is a good athlete and has a clean, compact arm strike, providing hope his control will improve with experience and maturity.
  
  The Future: The Angels will let Urena pitch as a starter for as long as he can in the hopes he'll find a third pitch and better control, but he is most likely to end up a hard-throwing reliever. He has a chance to pitch in high-leverage situations at his peak and will make his full-season debut at Low-A Inland Empire in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70. Slider: 40. Changeup: 55. Control: 30

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Urena received a $140,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic late in the 2021 international signing period and made his presence known with a fastball that regularly hit 100 mph in the Arizona Complex League in his 2022 pro debut. Urena regularly missed bats but also struggled to throw strikes and finished the year with a strong developmental focus on his command and breaking ball at instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Urena is a slight 6-foot righthander but possesses premium velocity and arm strength. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and frequently touches 100. His best secondary pitch is an above-average mid-80's changeup with late fade. Urena lacks a real breaking ball and constantly tinkers with multiple grips and hand positions to try and find one. He flashes a true, mid-80s slider in side sessions but has yet to find it in games. Urena has well below-average control, although he does work around the zone. He is a good athlete and has a clean, compact arm strike, providing hope his control will improve with experience and maturity.
  
  The Future: The Angels will let Urena pitch as a starter for as long as he can in the hopes he'll find a third pitch and better control, but he is most likely to end up a hard-throwing reliever. He has a chance to pitch in high-leverage situations at his peak and will make his full-season debut at Low-A Inland Empire in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70. Slider: 40. Changeup: 55. Control: 30
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme
  
  Track Record: Urena received a $140,000 bonus out of the Dominican Republic late in the 2021 international signing period and made his presence known with a fastball that regularly hit 100 mph in the Arizona Complex League in his 2022 pro debut. Urena regularly missed bats but also struggled to throw strikes and finished the year with a strong developmental focus on his command and breaking ball at instructional league.
  
  Scouting Report: Urena is a slight 6-foot righthander but possesses premium velocity and arm strength. His fastball sits 95-97 mph and frequently touches 100. His best secondary pitch is an above-average mid-80's changeup with late fade. Urena lacks a real breaking ball and constantly tinkers with multiple grips and hand positions to try and find one. He flashes a true, mid-80s slider in side sessions but has yet to find it in games. Urena has well below-average control, although he does work around the zone. He is a good athlete and has a clean, compact arm strike, providing hope his control will improve with experience and maturity.
  
  The Future: The Angels will let Urena pitch as a starter for as long as he can in the hopes he'll find a third pitch and better control, but he is most likely to end up a hard-throwing reliever. He has a chance to pitch in high-leverage situations at his peak and will make his full-season debut at Low-A Inland Empire in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 70. Slider: 40. Changeup: 55. Control: 30
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/Extreme
  
  August Update: Urena already throws a 96-100 mph fastball at 18 years old and has some of the best pure arm strength in the Angels system. His breaking ball and control are both well below-average and have a ways to go, but he&#39s young and has time to improve.