Cowser finding balance: 'maturing' but 'still a goof'

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Colton Cowser turned 24 on Wednesday, but many in the Orioles’ organization would probably say the outfielder acts a bit younger than that. (Prime example: the photo used in the team’s birthday graphic on social media.)

Cowser has a reputation of being a goofball. A guy who is always keeping things light with jokes and a fun personality on the backfields at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, helping to break up the monotony of Spring Training workouts.

But Cowser also knows when it’s time to lock in and focus on his work.

Has manager Brandon Hyde noticed any change in Cowser’s discipline now that he has been in big league camp a second time?

“Not really. Still a goof,” Hyde joked. “No, he’s maturing. He’s more comfortable. I mean, he’s trying to win a job, so he’s taking his job extremely seriously, and he knows the talent we have on this team and he’s fighting for a spot on the 26-man roster. So he’s doing everything he can. He’s played extremely well.”

He's playing so well, in fact, that it would be a surprise if Cowser doesn’t break camp with the team and head north to Baltimore for Opening Day (March 28 vs. the Angels at Camden Yards).

Cowser continues to put up impressive numbers. Through Wednesday, the 2021 first-round Draft pick was slashing .342/.468/.763 with one double, five home runs and 11 RBIs in 15 Grapefruit League games.

The outfield competition remains fierce as the spring winds down, with the Orioles’ final Grapefruit League game coming Sunday afternoon. Only one or two spots are available for a group that includes Cowser (the club’s No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline), Heston Kjerstad (No. 5), Kyle Stowers (a team-high seven Grapefruit home runs) and Ryan McKenna.

“We have a really talented, deep organization. A lot of great guys in the outfield,” said Cowser, the No. 19 prospect in baseball. “It’s not really in my control. I’m just trying to go out there and control what I can control out on the field, and whatever decision they ultimately make, I’m going to trust it and stay ready no matter what.”

Cowser is a strong front-runner, though, especially because of swings like the one he took in his final at-bat of Tuesday’s 13-8 win over the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark in Dunedin.

After striking out swinging in each of his first three plate appearances, the left-handed-hitting Cowser crushed a high full-count fastball from left-hander Brandon Eisert for a home run to deep center field. Fellow O’s prospect Jackson Holliday said it must have gone “like 500 feet.”

In fact, it went a Statcast-projected 463 feet. Not too bad, especially because Cowser’s main priority was making contact.

“The first three at-bats, I was a little too big,” Cowser said. “Tried to just simplify that last one, see the lefty in and tried to get a good pitch to drive. Got to 3-2 and got a good pitch to hit.”

If Cowser makes the team and continues to work at-bats like that -- which didn’t happen a ton during his tough 26-game MLB debut last year -- then he can be as goofy as he wants in the big leagues, too.

“He’s a character, and I don’t want him to lose that. I want him to be himself, and I want him to be loose,” Hyde said. “He’s also trying to win. He’s doing everything he can to try to make the team and help the team win.”

Gearing up for Opening Day
Many of the regulars were in the lineup Wednesday night, when the Orioles notched a 13-4 victory over the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.

Anthony Santander belted a three-run homer (his fourth long ball of Grapefruit League play) during a five-run first inning that also featured a solo shot from Ryan O’Hearn (his first homer of spring). In the second, Gunnar Henderson also went deep for the first time this spring, swatting a long two-run home run to right field.

With only eight days until Opening Day, a lot of players are eager to get going, including Santander.

“Oh yeah, I was excited since I got here,” Santander said. “But we’ve got a couple more games. We just try to stay healthy, the whole team, and break camp with full energy and ready to compete.”

Final spring tune-up
Dean Kremer made his fifth and final Grapefruit start vs. Philadelphia, as the 28-year-old right-hander allowed only one run and recorded five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings. He finished the spring with a 3.94 ERA over 16 innings.

“I feel good,” Kremer said. “I like the way things are trending currently, not only as the body’s getting going, but as well as stuff and executing pitches to certain locations and trying out new things. I’m really happy.”