Urrutia eager to prove he belongs in the majors

Any discussion about the options at first base if Chris Davis doesn't re-sign always include Triple-A Norfolk's Christian Walker and Double-A Bowie's Trey Mancini. They're the in-house candidates - both expected to start out in the minors, but potential fits depending on what happens before opening day.

The current in-house options in right field include L.J. Hoes, Nolan Reimold, Dariel Alvarez, Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard and maybe Mark Trumbo, if he isn't needed at first base or as the designated hitter.

What about Henry Urrutia? Why isn't he mentioned in more of the conversations?

Urrutia went 9-for-34 with a double, his first major league home run and six RBIs in 10 games after failing to reach the majors in 2014 - mostly due to sports hernia surgery. He wasn't recalled until Aug. 15, hit a walk-off home run four nights later against the Mets and was sent down on Aug. 28 while the Orioles were playing in Arlington.

The Orioles needed a spot for Cuban outfielder Alvarez on the 25-man roster. Alvarez received 20 at-bats in September, with manager Buck Showalter unwilling to sit his more experienced players in games that mattered most to the club's opponents. Urrutia, however, didn't receive a call after rosters expanded.

Out of Baltimore and out of mind.

I've asked about Urrutia and received no assurances that he'll be tossed into the mix in spring training, but he remains on the 40-man roster. He bats exclusively from the left side, which is a need for the Orioles. I'm curious how it's going to play out for Urrutia as he approaches his 28th birthday next month.

"I'm not worried at all," Urrutia told me yesterday in a text message, which he sent from Cuba.

"I know I did a good job in the big leagues last year, but the opportunity they gave me was very short, so I am proud of my work. I just want my chances in spring training. I want the chance to play more and get more at-bats than last year. I (had) only about 25 at-bats. I want my chance to prove my potential."

Urrutia batted .291/.345/.409 with a career-high 22 doubles, 10 home runs and 53 RBIs in 115 games last year with Norfolk. He owns a career .347 on-base percentage in three minor league seasons, another quality that the Orioles covet.

Besides continuing to upgrade his defense and consistently pull the ball, what else does Urrutia really need to prove in Triple-A?

"I know I can do a good job and help the Orioles," Urrutia wrote.

It's just a question of whether he's going to receive that chance and how much it hinges on other acquisitions.