Dodgers’ Julio Urias drawing comparison to Fernando Valenzuela

Julio Urias shares a lot of similarities with Fernando Valenzuela. Both are from northern Mexico, both signed their first professional contracts as teenagers, both are left-handers, and both were discovered by Dodgers super scout Mike Brito, who has found 35 players who eventually made it to the major leagues.

But it’s the one area where the two pitchers differ that Urias is concentrating on. Because while Valenzuela won a Cy Young award with the Dodgers, Urias hasn’t pitched above Single A.

“Every player starts the year with the goal to be here,” Urias said Friday as he sat in the Dodgers dugout. “This year I wasn’t here. To be here next year would be the goal.”

He could make that journey more quickly than expected after winning the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award. Outfielder Joc Pederson and infielder Corey Seager shared player of the year honors.

Urias, an 18-year-old from Culiacan Rosales in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, was 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA in 25 appearances at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, striking out 109 and holding opponents to a .194 average in 87 2/3 innings in his second pro season. Even Valenzuela failed to put up numbers like that during his minor league career.

“I’m proud of that because a lot of people make that comparison,” Urias said of his similarities with Valenzuela. “But his career is already done. He’s pitched. He’s done it.

“I still have to pitch. I still have to build my career. Whether I’ll be as good, only God knows.”

Seager also has a major leaguer to measure himself against -- his brother, Seattle Mariners’ third baseman Kyle Seager.

“Every problem I’ve ever had, he’s been through it already,” the Dodgers’ Seager said. “So I have that person to ask what to do, how to fix it. And I take [that information] and try to find my own way with it.”

Seager, 20, hit .349 with 20 homers, 97 runs batted in and a minor-league-best 50 doubles in a season split between Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga, where he played shortstop. Which means the next question he’ll have for his brother is how to play third, since the Dodgers are likely to move Seager over a few feet to the left side of the infield.

“I like shortstop better. But it’s all about being up here,” said Seager, who will play in the Arizona Fall League next month. “So if that’s a move I need to make, I’ll make it.’

Pederson, 22, who is finishing his summer in the majors, batted .303 and led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with 33 homers. He also stole 30 bases.