Orioles designate Henry Urrutia for assignment

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

July 19, 2016, 1:05pm

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NEW YORK - The Orioles designated outfielder Henry Urrutia for assignment today to create a spot for outfielder Julio Borbon on the 40-man roster.

Borbon's contract was selected today from Double-A Bowie and outfielder Hyun Soo Kim went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 11 with a strained right hamstring. Kim can return on July 26.

Borbon, 30, hasn't played in a major league game since Aug. 2, 2013 with the Cubs. He collected a hit in his only at-bat versus the Dodgers.

Borbon, a plus-defender with speed who has always impressed manager Buck Showalter, was batting .289/.353/.373 with seven doubles, two triples, five home runs and 20 RBIs in 83 games with Bowie. He's wearing No. 29 with the Orioles.

Urrutia, who signed with the Orioles in July 2012 after defecting from Cuba, was batting .298/.333/.408 with 10 doubles, one triple, three home runs and 23 RBIs in 48 games with Bowie after being demoted from Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles needed a left-handed hitting outfielder to replace Kim, and they chose Borbon over Urrutia, who was on the 40-man roster. The writing was on the wall.

Urrutia made his major league debut in 2013 and reappeared in the majors in 2015, going 25-for-92 with one double, a triple, one home run and eight RBIs.

Meanwhile, first baseman Chris Davis is in the clubhouse today after he spent last night's game at the team hotel with a stomach virus.