The Baltimore Orioles are loaded with young talent, but nobody is swinging the bat quite like Colton Cowser right now. After a stellar spring, the former fifth-overall pick is off to an unbelievably hot start in 2024. Cowser had a strong campaign with Triple-A Norfolk but struggled during his first stint in the big leagues last season. The 24-year-old has seen his OPS go from .433 last season to 1.444 over 38 plate appearances in 2024. Even with top prospect Jackson Holliday making his MLB debut, Colton Cowser is making his case for Rookie of the Year honors.
Cowser said his plan in his second big league stint was to “do all the things I did in spring. Maybe not strike out as much.” The rookie outfielder is 10-for-23 during his six-game hitting streak and for the year he’s 15-for-34 batting .441/.474/.971. Cowser is averaging one extra-base hit for every three at-bats so far this season. Through 14 games, Cowser has six doubles, four homers and 13 RBI. His four home runs are the first of his career with three coming in back-to-back games against the Red Sox.
Colton Cowser is Making His Case Among Fellow Rookies
His series against the Red Sox was historic. He became the youngest Orioles player since Cal Ripken Jr. to go 2-for-4 with two doubles in the series opener. On Thursday, Cowser became the 11th player in Orioles history to hit his first two home runs in the same game. Colton had 10 RBI in the series against Boston, something only six players have achieved in franchise history. He became the first Orioles player with at least five extra-base hits and 10 RBIs in a three-game span since Chris Davis in 2013.
No other player in MLB history has posted the same numbers as Cowser did against Boston in a three-game series. He wasn’t limiting his record-breaking just to Fenway Park though. Cowser became the first Oriole rookie since Ryan Mountcastle to hit his first four career home runs in four games. He is also the first Oriole player since Mountcastle last season to hit four home runs in four games.
Cowser’s Small Sample Size of Excellence
Even in a limited sample size, Cowser’s stats this season are completely different than they were last year. His strikeout percentage decreased from 28.6% to 23.7%, while his barrel percentage, hard-hit rate, and exit velocity have increased.
“Very proud of him, very happy with his adjustments. He took what we said into the offseason, worked with his coach back in Texas. Made great adjustments, not just the physical adjustments, but the mental adjustments too. Really confident at the plate and goes in with a great plan of attack,” O’s co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller said about Cowser before Sunday’s game.
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