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When a group of Dodgers scouts traveled to Mexico last spring, Yasiel Puig wasn’t the only top prospect they signed. In fact, he wasn’t the first.

Days before they signed Puig, the Dodgers reached an agreement with Mexican left-hander Julio Urias.


Urias, 16, is now pitching for the Dodgers’ Class-A affiliate based in Great Lakes, Mich., becoming the Midwest League’s youngest player in more than two decades.

Urias earned his first professional victory Thursday night, as he held West Michigan to one hit over five scoreless innings. The start was the third of the season for Urias, who has posted a 0.77 earned-run average and struck out 13 batters in 11 2/3 innings.


The Dodgers paid $1.8 million to secure Urias’ rights. Because 75% of that went to the Mexican team that owned his rights, only $450,000 counted against the Dodgers’ league-imposed spending limit for international amateur players, which was at $2.9 million for the 2012-13 signing period.

Though Urias was already throwing in the 90s, scouting director Logan White said other teams were scared off by Urias’ droopy left eyelid, which covers most of his eye when he pitches.


“They were all concerned about it,” White said. “I just liked the kid, his arm action and his delivery.”

Ramirez injury concerns Mattingly


Shortstop Hanley Ramirez missed a second consecutive start Friday, and this time Manager Don Mattingly said it was because the hamstring injury that he had just come off the disabled list with had flared up.

Despite assurances from the medical staff, Mattingly said he’s worried Ramirez could be headed back to the DL he had come off Tuesday.


“For me it’s a concern because it’s two days,” Mattingly said. “But Stan [Conte, vice president of medical services] seems to think we just have to get him through this little period.”

The Dodgers already have two players, Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford, on the disabled list with injured hamstrings.


Ramirez missed most of April after injuring his thumb in the final of the World Baseball Classic and requiring surgery. He returned to play only four games before injuring the hamstring and missing another month.

Mattingly said Thursday was a scheduled day off for Ramirez, but he had planned to start him Friday. Ramirez did appear as a pinch-hitter Thursday, walked and scored on Yasiel Puig’s grand slam.


“I really planned on playing him today, but before I left last night Stan was like, ‘We have to see Hanley before we do this tomorrow,’” Mattingly said. “He didn’t respond the way that Stan wanted him to.”

Mattingly called the hamstring “stiff” and said it was not aggravated by any particular moment.


“Just from playing baseball,” he said. “He didn’t feel it grab him or anything like that.”

Return of the Old-Timers Game


The Old-Timers Game returns for the first time since 1995 on Saturday, in a matchup of former Dodgers and Yankees. The exhibition game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.

Among those scheduled to make an appearance for the Dodgers are Tommy Davis, Fernando Valenzuela, Pedro Guerrero, Ron Fairly, Darryl Strawberry and Sandy Koufax. Ex-Yankees include Rickey Henderson, Graig Nettles, Chris Chambliss, Dwight Gooden and Rich “Goose” Gossage.


The Dodgers will be managed by Tom Lasorda and the Yankees by Billy Crystal.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com