Stowers debuts after deal, whirlwind 24 hours

This story was excerpted from Christina De Nicola’s Marlins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ST. PETERSBURG – As local movers packed up for Miami following Wednesday afternoon’s 6-2 victory over Tampa Bay at Tropicana Field, an Orioles equipment bag got stacked on top of the Marlins’ gear.

It belonged to outfielder Kyle Stowers, whose prior 24 hours had been a whirlwind after being acquired with infield prospect Connor Norby ahead of Tuesday’s Trade Deadline. Stowers had just gotten out of the tubs prior to Triple-A Norfolk’s game when teammate and MLB Pipeline’s No. 15 overall prospect Coby Mayo commented that Norby had been traded along with another player. When Stowers saw a text from O's executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias, he put two and two together.

Following a FaceTime call and plenty of logistics, Stowers got enough sleep before hopping on a 7:30 a.m. flight from Charlotte to Tampa in time for Wednesday’s Citrus Series finale. He introduced himself to new teammates and staff, then found himself starting in left field and batting third.

Easing the transition was reliever Calvin Faucher, who trains with Stowers over the offseason at 1RM Performance in San Diego. As the rumor mill connected the Marlins and O’s, Faucher hoped Stowers would be headed to South Florida. They often squared off in Triple-A, and they both have spoken highly of each other.

“I was stoked when we got him,” Faucher said. “He works super hard in the gym, on the field. I know he flew in early this morning, and he's already out on the field, getting reps in the outfield. So I'm stoked. I'm pumped for him and for us, too. It's a great addition.”

The 26-year-old Stowers struck out in all four at-bats, admitting he felt a bit nervous – not because of doubt but due to wanting to do too much. If Stowers were still with Baltimore, he might not get the chance to bounce back as quickly because he had been blocked from consistent playing time.

“I try to play this game with nothing to lose, everything to gain,” Stowers said. “It wasn't the best day at the plate, but shoot, that happens.

“You play so many games that, good or bad, you can't get too caught up, you have to just move on. I've been playing professionally since 2019 and I've had days like this, and I've responded to them and just move on. If today was a great day, same thing, move on.”

Stowers has grown into this mindset after shuttling back and forth between the Minors and Majors from 2022-24, appearing in 67 Major League games and notching 168 plate appearances. He had an .870 OPS and 57 homers in parts of four seasons and 1,047 plate appearances at Triple-A Norfolk. All that’s to say Stowers is excited for this new opportunity.

“I think he can really hit,” president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. “I think he is a power bat that has proven everything he needs to prove at the Minor League level, and now he's just one adjustment away from being a really good middle-of-the-lineup hitter at the Major League level.”

There are believers up and down the organization from Bendix to Faucher to manager Skip Schumaker.

“I'm excited to watch him play,” Schumaker said. “He's got a really good swing. All of our staff just watching him and seeing what he's done at the big league level and the Minor League level, he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a really good outfielder. Personality is really good. But the swing is going to play. I know he got four strikeouts, but those are going to happen in his career. It's probably going to happen again. But we're all excited – I'm not just saying that because it's his first day and we just traded for him and trying to sugarcoat this thing – I really think he's going to hit, and I really love the pickup.”