Jason Urquidez

Jason Carl Urquidez

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.
• School Central Arizona College, Arizona State University
• High School Chaminade College Preparatory School (West Hills), Royal High School (Simi Valley)

• Born September 12, 1982 in Tarzana, CA USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Jason Urquidez has pitched five seasons in AAA (through 2013).

Amateur Career

Urquidez was 7-4 with a 1.74 ERA as a high school sophomore. He was taken by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 48th round of the 2002 amateur draft out of high school but went on to college. As a freshman in 2002, he went 10-1 with a 3.18 ERA to win second-team All-Conference; Central Arizona won the NJCAA World Series. In 2003, the sophomore was 9-4 with 3 saves, a 1.89 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 85 2/3 IP. He was named his conference's Pitcher of the Year. Transferring to ASU, he posted a 12-3, 3.41 record. He led the Pac-10 Conference in wins and tied Mark Romanczuk for 6th in strikeouts (94). He was named All-Conference. The Cincinnati Reds picked him in the 11th round of the 2004 amateur draft, one pick before Kevin Hart, but he again did not sign. His senior year, he had similar numbers (10-4, 3.93) and was among the conference leaders in wins (tied for 5th), innings (121 1/3, behind Dallas Buck and Erik Averill) and strikeouts (98, 8th). He became the 7th pitcher in Arizona State history to win double-digit wins in consecutive seasons, following Jeff Pentland, Eddie Bane, Craig Swan, Floyd Bannister, Kendall Carter and Linty Ingram. He was chosen by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 17th round of the 2005 amateur draft, two selections before James Russell. Steve Kmetko was the scout.

Arizona chain

Jason made his pro debut with the Yakima Bears; he was 1-1 with 19 strikeouts and 7 runs (3 earned) in 15 innings. He missed 2006 due to right shoulder labrum surgery. He split 2007 between Yakima (1-0, Sv, 2.93 in 10 G) and the South Bend Silver Hawks (1-1, 3 Sv, 4 R, 1 ER in 21 IP). He spent 2008 with the Visalia Oaks (1-1, 2.86 in 21 G, 35 K in 34 2/3 IP), Mobile Bay Bears (2-1, 4.32 in 13 G) and Tucson Sidewinders (1-0, 2.35 in 5 G). The Californian was with Mobile (1-0, Sv, 3.15 in 12 G) and the Reno Aces (4-1, Sv, 4.53 in 38 G) in 2009. His 50 games pitched led Arizona minor leaguers, two more than Scott Maine and Jordan Norberto. The right-hander was with Reno for all of 2010, going 5-4 with 5 saves, a 4.90 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings. He tied Jon Hunton for 9th in the 2010 PCL in pitching appearances (51) and again led Diamondback farmhands, two ahead of Daniel Stange. Returning to Reno in 2011, he struggled (4-5, 6.29, .301 opponent average in 42 G).

From one stop to another

Urquidez tossed 2 1/3 IP in 3 games for the 2011-2012 Tiburones de La Guaira of the Venezuelan League, with two hits, two walks and two strikeouts. He opened 2012 with the independent Lancaster Barnstormers (2-0, 2.30 in 15 G). The Boston Red Sox signed him for some midseason help and sent him to the Portland Sea Dogs, for whom he was 4-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 17 outings. He returned to Lancaster to open 2013 and was nearly untouchable (3-1, 0.25 ERA, .72 WHIP, 48 K in 36 IP, 24 Sv). He was 5th in the Atlantic League in saves, between Adrian Martin and Gary Majewski. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim picked him up but he sputtered for the Salt Lake Bees (1-2, Sv, 6.92 in 11 G).

Sources

• 2011 Diamondbacks Media Guide
• ASU bio
• The Baseball Cube
• Purapelota