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Angelsā Walbert Urena Joins Exclusive Club in First Career Start
TL;DR
Walbert UreƱa had an impressive MLB debut, striking out eight batters in six innings. He became the fourth pitcher in Angels history to achieve this feat in their first career start.
Key points
- Walbert UreƱa struck out eight batters in his MLB debut
- He became the fourth Angels pitcher to achieve this in their first start
- UreƱa allowed two runs, four hits, and two walks in six innings
Walbert UreƱaLos Angeles AngelsSan Diego PadresDavis Daniel
Los Angeles Angels right-hander Walbert UreƱa had a fantastic first MLB start Sunday, and became the fourth player in Angels history to accomplish a rare feat.
UreƱa struck out eight batters in his six-inning outing, becoming just the fourth pitcher in Angels history to do so in their first career start. The three players preceding him are Davis Daniel, who did so in 2024, Rudy May, who fanned 10 in 1965 and Bob Lee who matched UreƱaās eight in 1964.
Through his six innings of baseball, UreƱa allowed just two runs to score, allowing four hits and two walks to go with his eight strikeouts.
Apr 19, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Walbert Urena (57) delivers during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
Prior to Sunday, UreƱa had made two appearances in MLB, both of which came against the Houston Astros earlier in the season. He threw 0.2 scoreless innings in his MLB debut, but allowed six runsāall scorelessā in his second outing against Houston two days later.
The Angels didnāt even have UreƱa originally scheduled to start Sundayās game, but moved Reid Detmers and Jack Kochanowicz back a day so they could recover from their lengthy outing against the earlier in the week.
Q&A
What did Walbert UreƱa achieve in his first MLB start?
Walbert UreƱa struck out eight batters in his first MLB start, becoming the fourth pitcher in Angels history to do so.
Who are the other Angels pitchers that struck out eight or more batters in their first start?
The other Angels pitchers are Rudy May, who struck out 10 in 1965, Bob Lee, who matched UreƱa's eight in 1964, and Davis Daniel, who accomplished it in 2024.
How many runs did UreƱa allow in his debut game?
UreƱa allowed two runs to score during his six-inning outing.