Quakes pitching coach Matt Herges works with Julio Urias.

By Cary Osborne

Inside the Tommy Lasorda Clubhouse at Rancho Cucamonga’s LoanMart Field, Quakes pitching coach Matt Herges is in manager P.J. Forbes’ office, looking worn.

It’s all over his face as midnight Saturday morning approaches. Herges had to take over managing duties Friday in the eighth inning, after Forbes was tossed for arguing balls and strikes on a night their pitching staff surrendered 14 runs.

But in a hallway that leads to the field after his meeting with Forbes, Herges lights up when talking about what he called the “Fab Three.”

The Quakes have three pitchers — Julio Urias, Chris Anderson and Tom Windle — who are top-10 prospects in the Dodgers system.

The “Fab Three” comment Herges made up on the spot because he knew as far back as March when these players were assigned to High-A Rancho Cucamonga that he had something special.

“Initially, obviously you’re super thrilled,” Herges said, “and everyone says, ‘Oh you’re going to have the best staff .’ And I think you’re right. This might be the best staff I’ll have in the minor leagues. But I know it will be the most challenging because these kids are expected to be great — and they will be — but there’s going to be a lot of growing pains and getting them through failure, because this league is tough on pitchers. It’s a hitter’s league, and I knew there would be some failures, but I embrace that because in those struggles, that’s when you learn the most.”

Through the first month and a half of the season, a first look at numbers would lead one to believe that it’s been a struggle for the trio (a combined 4.84 ERA and 1.49 WHIP). But like Herges said, through failure, the trio is learning.

Last year, all three made their professional debut at Low-A Great Lakes — Urias as a 16-year-old, Anderson after being drafted in the first round and Windle in the second round. They combined to have a 2.40 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. Failure was foreign.

Now they are each learning how to react to challenges.

For the left-handed 17-year-old Urias, it’s trying to get better command of his fastball, which Herges said is the last thing to come for a pitcher.

Anderson, a 21-year-old right-hander, wears his heart on his sleeve and is a tough competitor, so managing the emotions of the game is part of the process.

Windle, a 22-year-old left-hander, has had some of Rancho’s best-pitched games this season, but consistency from one start to the next has been an issue early on.

Urias is a unique case because of his age.

“With Julio being so young, managing the hype is the biggest thing,” Herges said. “I hate the fact that he has had this kind of hype, and he’s 17. It’s a lot. It’s a big weight to bear. But he’s that good so heavy is the crown. The fact that’s he’s struggled bad so far this year at times and the fact that he’s turning it around and he’s throwing more quality strikes than ever (shows his growth). He’s working his butt off.”

By season’s end, numbers (though they are very telling), won’t be the only barometer for the Fab Three. Herges said there are other measurements.

For Windle, he sees a guy who’s been a sponge. In Anderson, he’s seen a guy whose toughness and bravado on the mound could be a positive. In Urias, he sees a kid who at such a young age doesn’t show fear.

“Maybe the growth,” Herges said will be the gauge for the trio. “This is a big-boy league, hitting-wise. You have to earn your way out of lower A-ball to get here. Now the biggest jump is from here to Double-A, but I’ve always said this is a pretty big jump. I played in this league a few years. This is a very humbling level to be a pitcher in. It’s a tough league to pitch in, especially when you’re pitching here the first time.”

It has been humbling thus far for each pitcher. Mistakes have been made and will be made. But adversity is good for these three, Herges said. How they react to it will decide their future.