Urrutia to undergo sports hernia surgery

By Roch Kubatko

Orioles

May 09, 2014, 1:17pm

Comments

Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced today that outfielder Henry Urrutia will undergo sports hernia surgery Tuesday in Philadelphia. Urrutia is expected to miss six to eight weeks of the minor league season.

Urrutia was batting .220/.250/.293 with six doubles and seven RBIs in 20 games at Triple-A Norfolk. He appeared in 24 games as a rookie with the Orioles last season, batting .276/.276/.310 with a triple and two RBIs.

The Orioles chose Urrutia as their minor league Player of the Year after he batted a combined .347/.406/.506 with 21 doubles, one triple, nine homers and 50 RBIs in 81 games at Norfolk and Double-A Bowie.

The Orioles signed Urrutia on July 11, 2012 after he defected from Cuba. He impressed Showalter in spring training with his increased strength and commitment to improving his outfield defense.

Dr. William Meyers, a sports hernia specialist in Philadelphia, will perform the surgery. He's done the same procedure on outfielder Nick Markakis, second baseman Brian Roberts, pitcher Brian Matusz and former Orioles farmhand Ryan Adams, among others.

"It's frustrating, but he'll be back, hopefully, underneath two months. Finish up strong," Showalter said.

"There's ways to catch up and be an option for us. That would be basically sometime in July. I think they have to get in there and see how severe it is."

Outfielder Francisco Peguero begins his injury rehab assignment tonight at Norfolk. He's been on the disabled list with a wrist injury.