O's GM Elias gives noteworthy updates on top prospects

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BALTIMORE -- Mike Elias held a routine media session on Friday evening at Camden Yards, and he had plenty to share. The Orioles’ general manager gave updates on injured pitchers John Means and Dillon Tate -- both having experienced minor setbacks in their recoveries -- while also proclaiming the team is “preparing to be buyers” at the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline.

Elias made a few noteworthy comments regarding several of Baltimore’s top prospects as well, answering several burning questions fans may have had. Here are three takeaways:

1. Colton Cowser’s left quad injury isn’t a long-term concern
Whenever a top prospect is missing from his team’s Minor League lineup on a given night, there’s almost always speculation of whether he may be getting called up to the Majors. But when Cowser was out of Triple-A Norfolk’s lineup on May 17, it was because the 23-year-old outfielder was dealing with left quad tightness.

On May 20, the Tides placed Cowser on the seven-day injured list. The Orioles’ No. 2 prospect (and MLB Pipeline’s No. 29 overall prospect) remains on the IL, though Elias is anticipating an imminent return for Cowser.

“Should be pretty soon. I don’t have a particular timeline, but I’m hopeful that it’s measured more in days than weeks at this point,” Elias said. “I don’t think this is a major injury.”

Once Cowser is back, he’ll continue trying to force Baltimore’s hand in promoting him to The Show for the first time. Through 37 games for Norfolk this season, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 Draft is slashing .331/.469/.554 with eight doubles, one triple, seven homers and 28 RBIs.

2. Jackson Holliday is on track to reach Double-A Bowie this year
Even though Holliday -- Baltimore’s No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 3 overall prospect -- was promoted from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen less than a month into his first full professional season on April 24, the Orioles were hesitant to present Double-A Bowie as a realistic target for the 19-year-old shortstop in 2023. After all, many previous top prospects had initially struggled upon making the jump to High-A.

Not Holliday. In fact, his numbers with Aberdeen have been even more stunning than the ones he put up with Delmarva earlier in the year:

13 games with Delmarva: .392/.523/.667 with six doubles, one triple, two homers, 15 RBIs, 15 runs scored, 14 walks and three stolen bases

25 games with Aberdeen: .398/.518/.693 with six doubles, four triples, four homers, 20 RBIs, 27 runs scored, 22 walks and eight stolen bases

Does Double-A seem like a reasonable expectation for Holliday in 2023 now?

“If he, fingers crossed, stays healthy, this doesn’t look like the pace of a guy that’s going to stay at A-ball all year,” Elias said. “We want to do the right thing by his development. I don’t think just skipping across the waves and not really spending any time [at High-A is] a good idea. But we’ll move him if and when we think it’s the exact right thing to do for his development.”

3. Heston Kjerstad could soon be promoted to Triple-A Norfolk
Kjerstad raked in the Arizona Fall League, winning the league’s MVP Award last fall, then all throughout Spring Training. So it’s unsurprising the 24-year-old outfielder has just kept on hitting in his first taste of Double-A this season.

Through 38 games with Bowie, Kjerstad is slashing .313/.391/.613 with nine doubles, three triples, 10 homers and 21 RBIs. It’s not common for such a mature hitter to be at this level, but the No. 2 overall Draft pick in 2020 missed all of ‘21 due to myocarditis and early ‘22 with a left hamstring strain.

Now, Kjerstad (the Orioles’ No. 4 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 51 overall prospect) is on the precipice of potentially being promoted to Triple-A.

“We’re talking about what to do with him next,” Elias said. “Not saying anything’s imminent, but it’s becoming a constant conversation in the front office about when’s the right move for him.”