With Stowers off Opening Day roster, how will OF shape up?

SARASOTA, Fla. -- On Friday afternoon, Kyle Stowers stood inside the Orioles’ clubhouse at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, taking individual pieces of clothing out of his locker and packing them into an orange duffle bag on the ground. The 26-year-old spent the past five weeks trying to avoid this fate.

But Stowers also understood why he had just been optioned to Minor League camp and will now begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Norfolk. Baltimore’s organization is loaded with talented outfielders, and there wasn’t going to be room for all of them on the 26-man Opening Day roster.

“I’m bummed. I’m really bummed,” Stowers said. “I’d be lying to you guys if I said that this possibility didn’t cross my mind going into camp. I’m aware of the state of the team. There are so many good players in this clubhouse. I think that’s the double-edged sword of it all.”

General manager Mike Elias called it “a close call and a tough decision” to option Stowers. He did about everything he could to try to force his way onto the Orioles’ roster this spring.

Stowers is one of only two players with seven home runs in Spring Training (along with Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz), with three of those coming in a game vs. Detroit on March 17 in Lakeland. A former top prospect and a 2019 Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick, Stowers went 11-for-43 (.256) with 14 RBIs and a 1.011 OPS in 19 Grapefruit League games.

“I’m pretty tough on myself, so I always feel like there’s more I could have done. I always feel like there’s areas in which I can improve,” Stowers said. “But I feel like I had a good camp, and I think I made the decision hard.”

A spot on the Opening Day roster doesn’t guarantee a successful season, as Stowers knows well. Last year, he broke camp with Baltimore, then went 2-for-30 over 14 big league games in April and May. He never returned to the Majors after getting optioned on May 15, and his Triple-A season featured a right shoulder injury and a fractured nose.

The Orioles wanted a different “outfield configuration” for the early portion of their schedule, per Elias, who said “different player profiles were going to be better fits.” That doesn’t change his outlook on Stowers’ long-term future.

“Having him just sit on the end of the bench and pinch-hit here and there, it’s not ideal. So that goes into the calculus, too,” Elias said. “But he is going to get an extended chance, and when he does, he’s going to take huge advantage of it.”

Stowers is highly motivated to make his return to Triple-A short and to get back to the Majors soon.

“I don’t think the motivation can get any higher,” Stowers said. “But that’s how I came into camp. Getting optioned hasn’t changed that. Pretty unfortunate year last year, so if you don’t come into the season hungry, something’s wrong with me.”

The outfield battle
Stowers wasn’t the only outfielder competing for a roster spot optioned on Friday. Heston Kjerstad (Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) was also sent to Minors camp.

It’s nearly a lock that Colton Cowser (the O’s No. 3 prospect) will break camp with the team and serve as the fourth outfielder who can back up Austin Hays in left, Cedric Mullins in center and Anthony Santander in right. Elias would not confirm whether Cowser is making the team, but the GM has been impressed by the 24-year-old who had a disappointing 26-game debut MLB stint in 2023.

“This looks like the guy that we’ve seen in the Minors more than the one that came up and had some struggles last summer,” Elias said. “Again, haven’t made any final decisions on the roster. But Colton’s really, I think, improved his standing with anyone that’s watched him.”

The Orioles could go with five outfielders by carrying Ryan McKenna as well. Infielder/outfielder Tyler Nevin is another candidate for the final bench spot.

Opt-out clauses
Kolten Wong, a non-roster second baseman in camp, said Friday that he is opting out of his Minor League deal with Baltimore if he does not make the Opening Day roster. The opt-out deadline for the O’s to make a decision is Sunday afternoon.

“I’ve got 10 years in this already, I don’t plan on going down to the Minor Leagues after this,” said Wong, 33. “Whatever happens, happens. It’s just been a fun time to see all these young guys and see the talent coming up.”

Right-hander Julio Teheran is also opting out of his Minor League contract if he does not make the team, according to a source. The 33-year-old is making his fifth and final spring appearance on Saturday, when he’ll start for an Orioles split squad vs. the Rays in Port Charlotte.