Cowser cracks O's Opening Day roster after stellar spring

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Shortly after the Orioles’ Grapefruit League finale win vs. the Twins at Hammond Stadium on Sunday afternoon, Colton Cowser walked out of the clubhouse and toward the gaggle of reporters waiting to talk with him down the hallway.

The 24-year-old outfielder was first asked how he felt about his Spring Training.

“I felt like the work was there, I felt like I had a really good spring,” Cowser said. “Would like to cut up on some things, but overall, I liked the way I was aggressive, things like that. And then, yeah, I was just informed that I made the club.”

That’s right. Only moments earlier, Cowser -- the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect and the No. 19 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline -- was told he’s heading to Baltimore for his first career Opening Day, Thursday when the O’s host the Angels at Camden Yards.

“I’m excited. I don’t know, was I supposed to say that?” said Cowser, immediately questioning whether he had spoiled some grand reveal by the team.

An Orioles team official let Cowser know he was in the clear and had not done so. Then, he continued on discussing the topic that had been on his mind for the past week -- whether he would break camp with the big league team.

“I mean, it’s hard not to think about it -- today, especially,” Cowser said. “Not that I didn’t care what happened in the game. That was on the back of my mind probably the whole day today. Not that it got in the way or anything.”

The breaking news was so fresh when Cowser dropped it in the media scrum that he hadn’t even told his parents at that point. He asked the reporters to not share the huge piece of information on social media for a few minutes so that he could first give them a call.

It was surely a memorable moment for Cowser, who had a terrific spring that set him up for a second crack at the big leagues.

Last year, Cowser was called up to the Majors for the first time on July 5. He had a disappointing 26-game stint during which he slashed .115/.286/.148 with two doubles and four RBIs. On Aug. 14, he was sent back to Triple-A Norfolk, where he spent the rest of the season (except for a two-day MLB callup at the start of September, but he didn’t play).

When Cowser reported to Sarasota for Spring Training in February, he was part of a crowded outfield mix battling for roster spots. Beyond the trio of starters (Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander), Cowser, Heston Kjerstad (the O’s No. 5 prospect), Kyle Stowers and Ryan McKenna were all competing for what ended up being one spot.

So, now that Cowser won the competition, how does he plan on making his second big league experience more enjoyable than his first?

“I’d say do all the things I did in spring. Maybe not strike out as much,” Cowser said. “I liked where I was at with my aggressiveness, my approach.”

Sure, Cowser had 17 strikeouts in 46 at-bats over 18 Grapefruit League games this spring. But the 2021 first-round MLB Draft pick also slashed .304/.418/.717 with one double, six homers, 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored.

Those numbers are skewed a bit by Cowser’s strong start. He went 11-for-23 (.478) over his first 10 games, then 3-for-23 (.130) over his final eight.

“Came out of the gates swinging really well,” Cowser said. “And then, it got to the point where I felt like, because I was swinging well, I could hit everything and then started swinging at a lot of pitches.”

Still, Cowser’s overall body of work and his performance made a strong impression this spring.

“Colton’s really, I think, improved his standing with anyone that’s watched him,” general manager Mike Elias said Friday.

Heading into the season, Cowser will serve as a fourth outfielder who can fill in at all three spots. He could get a good bit of time in right, allowing Anthony Santander to get more starts at designated hitter.

But before Cowser plays in his next big league game, he’ll get to run down the orange carpet and experience the pageantry of Opening Day. He’s excited for that, but he’s also thinking long term, motivated to avoid another demotion back to the Minors.

“It’s going to be cool. I’m going to soak it in,” Cowser said. “And then, I’m going to do whatever it takes to stay up there.”