The kid-glove treatment is part of management's experiment to limit Urias' innings early in the season so he can pitch in September and October without jeopardizing his 20-year-old arm.
Roberts said Urias is expected to remain in the rotation and not be shuttled in and out as the season progresses.
"That was why we did what we did, to shorten the season or condense it, to get Julio here and he can be here for the duration," said Roberts.
In 2015, at four Minor League stops, an 18-year-old Urias threw a combined 80 1/3 innings. In 2016 that number jumped to 127 2/3 innings in the regular season and postseason, 82 2/3 of them in the Major Leagues, where he went 5-2 with a 3.