Orioles’ Cowser on O’Neill, broken hand, new left-field dimensions

Not many active players come to the Winter Meetings unless they’re looking for a job. Colton Cowser did, and for an unusual reason.

The Orioles’ outfielder, who was a finalist for the Gold Glove in left field, was invited by MLB Network to reveal the results of the draft lottery on Tuesday.

Cowser, a Houston native, lives in the Dallas area, and he enjoyed his time. Orioles reporters covering the Winter Meetings couldn’t judge how well he did because executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias was giving a briefing. The television set nearest to Elias had its sound off.

“It was fun. I was sweating,” Cowser said. “My palms were, but we’re good.”

Cowser, who also finished a close second to New York Yankees right-hander Luis Gil in voting for the American League Rookie of the Year, saw his 2024 season end painfully as he struck out on a pitch by Kansas City’s Angel Zerpa that fractured his left hand. Even worse, the bases were loaded when Cowser struck out.

He had surgery on the hand on October 15^th, 13 days after he broke it, and swelling subsided a few weeks later, Cowser reported. A few weeks after that, he had a full range of motion, and he said he’ll be ready for the start of spring training two months from now.

“It feels pretty normal right now,” Cowser said. He’s still getting physical therapy, and he’s looking forward to hitting in a few weeks.

Cowser appeared in the Orioles’ suite just after the signings of outfielder Tyler O’Neill and catcher Gary Sánchez were announced. Cowser, O’Neill and Cedric Mullins should be the Orioles’ primary outfield alignment. O’Neill played for Boston against the Orioles in 2024.

“I got to see a lot of him this year,” Cowser said. “He’s got a lot of pop. He had a good approach. I’m really excited. I think he’s going to bring a lot of diversity for us in the outfield. I’m looking forward to get to know him not only as a player, but as a human.”

Elias said O’Neill could play all three outfield spots, although mostly in right and left. Cowser brings that same versatility.

“I play anywhere in the outfield,” Cowser said. “That’s my mindset. I feel like I can catch the ball no matter where I’m at. Go make some plays. I’m comfortable doing that. I feel like I’ve done that this past year. Most of my innings being in left. I played a lot of right and a lot of center as well.”

The 24-year-old hit .242 with 24 home runs, 69 RBIs and a .768 OPS. He struck out 172 times in 153 games. In 2023, Cowser had a rough first stint in the majors, going 7-for-61 (.115).

“Coming up in ’23 helped me,” Cowser said. “Kind of understand what to expect coming into ’24. I kind of knew that going into spring training, I was told I was competing for a fourth outfielder’s spot, understanding what it would take to move into an everyday role.”

Cowser won the American League Rookie of the Month for April when he hit .303 with six home runs and 18 RBIs with a 1.004 OPS.

“I didn’t surprise myself,” he said. “Starting off so hot, then cooling off a little bit, going through the ebbs and flows of my first major league season, learned a lot about myself.”

Cowser was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft. Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, struggled in his first season as a 20-year-old major leaguer, and Coby Mayo was just 4-for-41 with 22 strikeouts.

“No doubt in my mind that they’re going to be really productive,” Cowser said. “I guess you call it a struggle on paper. I said this about myself: ‘It never hurts to debut in the big leagues and struggle a little bit.’ I think it’s going to make you a better player in the future. They know that. I’m looking forward to how they play this year.”

Cowser is looking forward to the shorter Oriole Park left-field dimensions. He hit one home run to deep left-center and, according to Baseball Savant, lost a home run on May 10^th because of the deep left field.

“It feels like it’s a little bit more obtainable there in left-center,” Cowser said. “Get the approach back, the fastball timing back to the middle of the field rather than to right-center. It’s going to be a little different on defense, but that’s something challenging I’m looking forward to.”

Manager Brandon Hyde mentioned that the shorter dimensions should help right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters who can go to the opposite field.

“You feel like you get rewarded more going the other way and you’re able to back that fastball up, your fastball timing,” Cowser said. “It gives you more room on the offspeed. It’s going to be beneficial to both sides.”

Ryan Mountcastle lost 11 home runs, more than any other Oriole, in the three years of the deeper dimensions.

“Whether you want to or not, it gets in your head,” Cowser said. “You make little changes here and there, whether you want to or not. Over time, you change your approach. You get out of an approach you’re more used to. I think that’s part of the game. Every ballpark is different, regardless of how the field is playing, you want to get the same approach.”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.