Based on Roch Kubatko of MASN, the Orioles are anticipated to pick the contract of outfield prospect Colton Cowser forward of Sunday’s recreation towards the Yankees. Baltimore has a full 40-man roster, which means the membership might want to clear area for the teen earlier than he can be part of the workforce. The upcoming transfer will put Cowser in line to make his main league debut.
Cowser, 23, was chosen by the Orioles with the fifth general choose within the 2021 draft. After a sensational skilled debut late within the 2021 marketing campaign that noticed him slash .375/.490/.492 with extra walks than strikeouts between rookie ball and Single-A, Cowser entered the 2022 marketing campaign as a consensus prime 100 prospect within the sport. He delivered on that promise after which some, advancing from Excessive-A all the best way to Triple-A by the top of 2022 whereas slashing a strong .278/.406/.469 throughout three ranges of the minor leagues.
Whereas Cowser’s 2022 vaulted him up prospect rankings to the purpose the place he entered 2023 as a consensus prime 40 prospect in all of baseball, the Orioles opted to take issues slowly with the lefty slugger throughout his age-23 marketing campaign after he slashed simply .219/.339/.429 in 124 Triple-A plate appearances final yr. In his return to the membership’s Norfolk affiliate, Cowser has confirmed that he’s mastered the Triple-A stage: he’s slashed a whopping .330/.459/.537 with an outstanding 18.7% stroll charge in 257 plate appearances on the stage this yr.
In making his MLB debut, Cowser joins Baltimore’s youth motion that started with the promotion of Adley Rutschman final summer season. Since then, the membership has seen prime prospects Gunnar Henderson, Grayson Rodriguez, Joey Ortiz, and Jordan Westburg all debut within the large leagues. The surge of younger expertise has helped buoy the Orioles all through a unbelievable first half. The membership is at present 49-35, second in a extremely aggressive AL East division and within the driver’s seat of the AL Wild Card race.
Going ahead, Cowser figures to fit into the membership’s outfield combine. With Cedric Mullins entrenched in middle subject and each Austin Hays (132 wRC+) and Anthony Santander (122 wRC+) having glorious seasons, it appears seemingly that Cowser’s arrival leaves Aaron Hicks ticketed for a smaller position. The 33-year-old veteran has had a resurgence since becoming a member of the Orioles after being designated for project by the Yankees earlier this season, slashing .262/.374/.464 in 99 plate appearances with Baltimore. Going ahead, Hicks appears prone to fill the reserve outfielder position at present occupied by Ryan McKenna.
