The prospectus parade continues in Baltimore.
Cowser will be the fifth first-round pick of the 2021 draft to make it to the major leagues. He was drafted 10th on MLB Pipeline’s draft list that year, and the Orioles picked him up 5th, signing him for a $4.9 million bonus below the slot. It was the second year in a row that the team signed and contracted a collegiate outfielder after picking Heston Kjerstad as the No. 2 pick overall in 2020, a move that allowed him to pick again in the later draft Slot for numerous players to take over.
Cowser, the most-drafted player in Sam Houston State history, showed early on that he was much more than a saver when he played 32 games at a time in his pro debut, which he spent mostly at Single-A Delmarva OPS of 0.982 completed. Cowser shone in 2022, his first full pro season, by achieving triple-A and finishing with 19 homers and 18 steals and a 15 percent walk rate.
The flip side of that coin was the swing-and-miss that appeared in Cowser’s game, which came as a bit of a surprise to some considering Cowser’s gamble on hitting power and punching power as he made his debut in pro ball. The left-hander hit 174 times (27.8 percent) in 2022 and seemed to have trouble breaking things, especially in double-A and triple-A (44 percent miss rate).
Long known for his progressive approach with a keen attacking zone flair, Cowser made some adjustments during 2023, which he spent exclusively at Triple-A. He has a .996 OPS this season (.330/.459/.537), with 10 homers and seven steals, and he’s still getting a lot of walks (18.7 percent). However, his strikeout rate was drastically reduced to 23.3 percent. He’s missing fewer breakballs (40 percent) and has improved more against pushers, reducing his on-court miss rate from 44 percent to 36 percent. He just doesn’t miss fastballs; According to Synergy, Cowser hit .430/.576/.785 this year when he saw a heater. Eight of his 10 homers in 23 hit fastballs, and he retains a knack for throwing the ball up and getting it into every field.
Suffice it to say that Cowser should expect a consistent dose of spin and off-speed stuff at the highest level. Whether he can continue to adapt will be a key to his success in the big league on offense. One thing that Cowser has in his favor is his ability to see a lot of shots and not turn down offers that are out of the zone. If he’s able to match the number of good hitters, he’ll be able to see and enjoy more fastballs, but don’t be shocked if Cowser’s strikeout rate goes up a bit when his feet get wet.
Cowser is not a pure racquet player. While not a burner, he uses his speed well on both sides of the ball. He’s a smart and aggressive baserunner, one who should continue to steal some bags in the majors. He’s also shown he has the skills and instincts to play solid midfield, something the evaluators weren’t convinced of during his draft year. He’s certainly capable of playing a corner kick in the outfield, which will likely be the case once Cedric Mullins is established in the O’s midfield.