Colton Cowser’s first stint within the majors got here to an finish Monday, with the Orioles optioning their No. 2 prospect again to Triple-A Norfolk and activating Aaron Hicks from the injured listing.
The fifth general choose within the 2021 draft, Cowser appeared in 26 video games after his early July promotion, with a lot of his time coming with Hicks and Cedric Mullins, Baltimore’s main middle fielders, on the IL. But the 23-year-old was unable to capitalize on the enjoying time, going 7-for-61 (.115) with two doubles, 13 walks and 22 strikeouts. Before Baltimore’s weekend sequence in Seattle, Cowser mentioned he hoped to “stop thinking so damn much” as he tried to settle into the large leagues.
“Colton’s going to be a really good major league player,” supervisor Brandon Hyde mentioned. “Got off to a fairly good begin, after which he simply form of obtained caught in between a bit of bit in his at-bats. I simply need him to go down there and free his thoughts up. Kind of reset a bit of bit, loosen up and breathe and go take some at-bats, and don’t fear about attempting to provide up right here. And perhaps we’ll see him quickly.
“Once you start getting in between, all of a sudden now you’re kind of looking for certain pitches and just not able to relax in the batter’s box. I just thought he was getting frozen up a little bit in his at-bats the last couple weeks. So you go down there, clear your mind, clear your head and go get some at-bats and hopefully come back.”
After being launched by the New York Yankees, Hicks obtained off to a robust begin with the Orioles, serving as a fill-in for Mullins after the 2021 All-Star’s first proper groin pressure. Hicks hit .307 with a .983 OPS in his first 20 video games with the group. But he slumped quickly after Mullins’ return, batting .203/.300/.304 in his last 22 video games earlier than happening the IL himself with a left hamstring pressure.
The Orioles might be cautious with Mullins, who has missed 44 video games throughout two IL stints for the groin pressure. Hicks, a switch-hitter, will proceed to see time in middle, the nook spots and probably designated hitter. He went 1-for-8 in two rehabilitation video games with Norfolk, the place Cowser batted .330 with a .996 OPS this 12 months to earn his promotion.
It’s definitely not uncommon for well-regarded prospects to battle of their first major-league go. Neither Adley Rutschman nor Gunnar Henderson required a return to the minors, however each endured gradual stretches as they started their paths to stardom with Baltimore, which Henderson reminded Cowser of whereas the pair performed video video games collectively lately. The Orioles despatched prime pitching prospect Grayson Rodriguez again to Triple-A after 10 up-and-down begins to open his profession, however he enters Monday’s matchup with the San Diego Padres with a 3.45 ERA in 5 begins since being known as again up.
“It’s not always a terrible thing to have a guy come up here and experience what major league pitching’s like and what big league life is like,” Hyde mentioned. “Understand how to go through some adjustments when you go back down to Triple-A. We saw Grayson do that earlier this year. He came back a different guy.”
Cowser, too, is positioned to rejoin the Orioles earlier than the tip of the season, even when the contending crew decided it couldn’t afford to let him work by means of his struggles whereas within the majors. Baltimore will name up a minimum of one place participant when rosters increase Sept. 1, and Cowser’s pace and skill to play all three outfield spots might be of worth because the Orioles search their first playoff berth since 2016.
“I think for him it’s about rebuilding that confidence again,” Hicks mentioned. “I feel like when he got up here, he was kind of being more passive, whereas I want him to be more aggressive. He was walking, he was having great at-bats, but at the big league level, it just comes down to being aggressive. I just think for him, it just seemed like he was starting to lose his confidence a little bit, and once you lose that as a young player in the big leagues, it’s kind of tough to regain it back.”
Around the horn
- Left-hander John Means, working his manner again from final 12 months’s Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure, will make his second rehabilitation begin for Double-A Bowie on Tuesday.
- Mullins’ house run-robbing catch within the ninth inning of Sunday’s victory towards the Seattle Mariners was named MLB’s play of the week. It’s he fourth time Mullins has gained the distinction, probably the most of any participant because it was formally launched in 2019.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com