Important season coming up for Urrutia

Here's hoping that everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving and no one bet the mortgage on the Cowboys.

I'm heading out later today to buy a battery for my laptop. The power cord has a short in it, further complicating my efforts to post daily blog entries.

Otherwise, it's a piece of cake. Or a slice of pumpkin pie, if that's your preference.

I've written how the Orioles are focusing on their bullpen, especially left-handed relief with Andrew Miller set to depart as a free agent. The outfield corners also need their attention with Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz currently on the free agent market.

You never hear Henry Urrutia mentioned as a possibility in left or right field. He appeared in only 65 games last season - 51 at Triple-A Norfolk and 14 with the Gulf Coast League team - due to sports hernia surgery in May. He needs more at-bats in the minors and more reps in the outfield as he works to improve his defense.

This will be an important year for Urrutia, who turns 28 in February. He hit a combined .253/.274/.312 with no home runs and 19 RBIs in 253 at-bats this season, and the buzz has become much louder for Dariel Alvarez, the other Cuban outfielder in the system who figures to make his major league debut in 2015.

Urrutia has been working out in Sarasota and intends to fight for a roster spot after reporting to spring training. He's not likely to break camp with the team, especially if the Orioles re-sign Markakis as expected, but he's going for it.

The Orioles signed Urrutia to a minor league deal in July 2012 that included a $778,500 signing bonus. He went 16-for-58 (.276) the following year with the Orioles, but didn't make it back to the majors in 2014.

Not everyone in the organization is sold on Urrutia. He's got a lot to prove. It's just a shame that his body failed him over the summer.

Urrutia impressed last spring with his more muscular frame and the extra hours spent taking fly balls and grounders in the outfield. No one questions his work ethic. But he needs to demonstrate that he can get around on fastballs and pull the ball from the left side of the plate after abandoning switch-hitting. He needs to put up numbers and show that he deserves to hold onto his spot on the 40-man roster.

MLB.com lists Urrutia as a designated hitter on the 40-man, but I lump him with the other outfielders. It's not as though he's a full-time DH. However, his best chance to play for the Orioles may come in that role.

Eight Orioles were used as the DH this year, but that includes Steve Clevenger, who went 0-for-2, and Jemile Weeks, who went 3-for-8.

Cruz received the most at-bats with 350 and hit half of his 40 home runs in that role. Delmon Young, also a right-handed hitter, was next with 148 at-bats. Both players could be in other organizations next year.

Steve Pearce (35 at-bats) could be slotted as the DH if he's not needed on the field. Markakis (22 at-bats) will be used more in that role to stay fresh if the Orioles can reach agreement with him on a four-year deal.

Urrutia's left-handed bat could work as the DH if the offensive part of his game develops beyond what we saw with the Orioles in 2013.

Pearce was 12-for-31 (.387) with four doubles and a home run as the DH this season. Adam Jones, who's not comfortable sitting in the dugout while his teammates are on the field, went 7-for-15 (.467) with a home run.