Dodgers recall Julio Urias, put Alex Wood on DL

CHICAGO -- It didn't takeJulio Uriaslong toreturn to the Los Angeles Dodgersafter all.

Urias, a 19-year-old left-hander who made his major league debut Friday at New York against the Mets and was sent back to the minor leagues a day later, was recalled once again Tuesday, with the club putting left-handed starter Alex Wood on the disabled list with left posterior elbow soreness.

Urias will start this weekend against the Atlanta Braves, but what day that will be is uncertain because of more rotation questions. Right-hander Kenta Maeda, who was hit on the right hand by a line drive Saturday, was being treated for swelling in the hand Tuesday, putting his Thursday start in jeopardy.

Wood, who dealt with nagging soreness in the area of his left triceps during his past two starts, is going through the issue a third time, even though his outing Monday against the Chicago Cubs was pushed back three days. Wood originally injured himself taking a swing during a May 15 game against the St. Louis Cardinals. He is returning to L.A. to have an MRI.

A Mexico native, Urias became the first teenager to start in his major league debut in 11 years. The last to do it was the Seattle Mariners' Felix Hernandez in 2005.

Despite taking a 27-inning Triple-A scoreless streak into the outing, Urias ran into trouble in the first inning, giving up two runs. He lasted just 2 innings and took the loss after walking four and giving up five hits to the Mets. It was the only game the Dodgers dropped during their three-game weekend series at New York.

Urias is considered the Dodgers' top prospect now that shortstop Corey Seager is a major league regular. ESPN's Keith Law had Urias ranked as the top overall prospect in baseball when the season began.

In four minor league seasons with the Dodgers organization, Urias has a 2.63 ERA and has averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He became the first Dodgers pitcher to make his major league debut before his 20th birthday since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981.

Players can't be recalled from the minor leagues until 10 days after they were sent down, unless an injury on the major league roster occurs. The Dodgers are bringing Urias back just three days after he was sent back to the minors.

The Dodgers also designated Alex Guerrero for assignment Tuesday after he completed his minor league rehab assignment for a left knee contusion. Guerrero was in the third year of a four-year, $28 million contract that stipulates he must be traded or released if he is not on the major league roster.

Guerrero struggled in 16 games over three minor league levels in recent weeks, batting .136 with a .162 on-base percentage. He struck out 14 times and hit his only home run for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. Known as a defensive liability, Guerrero was considered only at third base this season.

In addition, right fielder Yasiel Puig was a game-time scratch with a sore left hamstring for Tuesday night's 5-0 win over the Cubs. Carl Crawford entered the lineup in left field, and Trayce Thompson moved from left to right. Thompson had missed the previous two games with back spasms.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game that he held out Puig as a precaution because of the wet grass and expects him to play Wednesday.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.