Jul 14, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) in the dugout during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Blue Jays 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
For players like Henry Urrutia, the road to the majors can be short, compared to others’ long journey through the minor leagues. Urrutia, the 6’5″ outfielder from Cuba, has climbed up the Baltimore Orioles organization this year in just 67 games. (52 with the AA Bowie Baysox and 15 with the AAA Norfolk Tides)
Along with Urrutia, the team brought up Danny Valencia for the second time this season. Valencia was batting .230 with four home runs and eight RBI’s. He provides the Orioles with another right-handed bat on the bench and a safe option at second on defense.
Making room on the team is Nolan Reimold who yet again will be placed on the Disabled List. Reimold is dealing with a lingering neck injury that kept him off of the field for most of 2012. In his 40 games this season, he was batting just .195 with 41 strikeouts. Folks around Baltimore are starting to wonder if Nolan Reimold’s time in Baltimore might be coming to a close.
If there’s one person that is going to be able to take Reimold’s spot on the 25-man roster, it’s the 26-year old Urrutia. He has been beyond impressive at the dish, batting .365 between AA and AAA. His on-base percentage of .427 was among the best of all minor leaguers. In his 15 games in AAA Norfolk, Urrutia, the left-handed hitter, was hitting .372 against right-handed pitchers and went 6-for-17 against left-handers. He hit fifth for the World Team in the Futures Game, starting in right field.
With the many Cuban players making name for themselves in the MLB, Urrutia is looking to join the list of arising stars.