The Orioles made three roster moves Friday afternoon, including the long-anticipated promotion of Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez.
Alvarez, 26, hit .275 with 16 homers and 72 RBIs in 130 games at Triple-A Norfolk and was considered the club’s fifth-best prospect by Baseball America heading into this year.
To make room for him on the 25-man roster, the Orioles sent fellow Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia back to Norfolk. Urrutia hit .265 in 10 games with the Orioles, including a walk-off homer on Aug. 19.
But with the Orioles facing three consecutive left-handed starters versus the Rangers, it made more sense to have Alvarez’s right-handed bat available over Urrutia, a left-handed hitter.