Dodgers' Urias to have cosmetic eye surgery

Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias will be sidelined for a month after undergoing cosmetic surgery on his left eye, according to MLB.com.

MLB.com's No. 8 prospect will undergo the procedure -- periorbital benign mass removal -- on May 28. He's expected to resume baseball activities in June and be back to game action before July.

"He deserves this level of support and we are thrilled to give it to him," director of player development Gabe Kapler told MLB.com.

Urias has had three prior operations on his left eye to address a benign mass. Urias told the L.A. Times this spring that can see through the eye, though it appears nearly closed at all times.

"That's how god works," Urias told the Times. "He gave me a bad left eye but a good left arm."

The 18-year-old has emerged as one of baseball's most promising pitching prospects and has dominated as the youngest player in the Double-A Texas League this year. In seven starts with Tulsa, Urias is 1-2 with a 3.00 ERA. He's struck out 46 batters and walked just nine over 36 innings.

Urias throws a fastball that runs up to 98 mph and earns raves for his changeup and breaking ball.

"He would've gotten out Major League clubs tonight, he was that good," Tulsa manager Razor Shines said after Urias tied a career high with 10 strikeouts on April 27.

"He's got a much older demeanor than 18 years old. This kid has been around the game it seems like forever, just the way he handles things."

The 6-foot-2 pitcher's last start with the Drillers came on May 12, when he allowed three earned runs over 3 1/3 innings against Springfield. The left-hander struck out seven and tied a career high with four walks in the no decision.

The move will allow the Dodgers to limit Urias' innings in 2015. The Mexican hurler tossed a career-high 87 2/3 innings with Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga last year.

"Obviously, one of our main intentions -- independent of the procedure -- is to protect Julio and limit his workload," said Kapler. "We're mindful of pitch and innings totals for every pitcher in our organization. Our aim is to take a long view approach to Julio's progression with laser-sharp focus on long-term health. A blow midseason made sense to us."