As July turned to August, Orioles rookies Gunnar Henderson and Colton Cowser spent the evening a approach they oft have: enjoying Rocket League. But Henderson entered the gaming session with a function.
Since arriving within the majors, Cowser had struggled, maybe no extra so than that evening’s recreation, when he struck out 3 times in 4 at-bats within the collection opener with the Toronto Blue Jays to drop his main league batting common under .100. Afterward, Cowser admitted Friday, “there was no confidence there at all.” Henderson gave him trigger to get some again.
“He was like, ‘I just went through the same stuff. Just continue to work through it. It’s only gonna help you in the future,’” Cowser mentioned. “And now, you look at him, and it’s pretty encouraging. Just got to capitalize on the opportunities that I get.”
But it’s unclear what number of extra alternatives Cowser, Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect in keeping with Baseball America, will get. Before Friday’s collection opener with the Seattle Mariners, the Orioles activated Cedric Mullins from the injured listing, whereas Aaron Hicks, one other ailing heart fielder, begins a rehabilitation task with Triple-A Norfolk. The returns of these established outfielders may squeeze Cowser off the roster.
Henderson, who entered the 12 months as baseball’s No. 1 prospect, was capable of work by his struggles within the majors. Through the season’s first 30 video games, he was batting .174 with a .643 OPS however entered Friday hitting .262 with an .840 OPS since. Henderson emphasised to his pal that he keep on with his routine and never attempt to change an excessive amount of.
“I just wanted to reach out to him and, in a very low-key way, just kind of see how he’s doing,” Henderson mentioned. “Really just talk to him, see how he’s doing mentally because I went through the exact same thing and answered the same exact questions. Just trying to pass on what I went through and just shorten his time in it because we all know what he can do whenever he gets going.”
With Triple-A Norfolk, Cowser, 23, hit .330/.459/.537 to develop into Baseball America’s No. 12 general prospect. Through his first 26 main league video games, Cowser is hitting .115/.286/.145, flying out on a hard-hit ball and strolling twice Friday whereas enjoying left with Mullins in heart.
Baltimore’s choice with the fifth general decide within the 2021 draft, Cowser had sluggish begins all through his climb up the Orioles’ farm system, and though these experiences give him hope now, he mentioned they didn’t include the extent of expectations upon him within the main leagues.
He added his points aren’t associated to his swing, however reasonably his psychological strategy, saying his foremost objective is to “stop thinking so damn much.”
“Just gonna try to go out there and enjoy it, have fun and play like I got nothing to lose because in reality, can’t really get much worse right now,” Cowser mentioned. “Just gonna attempt to go on the market with that mindset and be myself and have enjoyable.
“I think that it can only really go up from here, and that’s kind of the main thing I’m focusing on, just what I can do to help this team win.”
With Henderson and fellow former high prospect Adley Rutschman as examples, Orioles supervisor Brandon Hyde described what Cowser goes by as “typical young guy struggles.” He mentioned Cowser, identified for his affected person strategy, used that talent early, however as opposing pitchers started to assault him extra, he steadily discovered himself behind within the rely and struggled to battle again.
After that tough first day in Toronto, Hyde sat him the subsequent three days, saying he wished to offer Cowser a while to “relax.” In the ultimate recreation of the collection, he delivered a pinch-hit double at 106 mph. Five of his six balls in play this month have been no less than 95 mph, however solely two have develop into hits.
“He’s starting to hit balls hard, and they’re just right to people,” Henderson mentioned. “A lot of guys that get called up go through the same thing. They kind of struggle and then start hitting balls hard, and when they start falling, then they get going and they don’t ever look back.”
Still, Cowser’s numbers have ticked up considerably since that evening with Henderson, with the rookie outfielder batting .222 with a .697 OPS in August. Cowser mentioned he initially allowed his on-field efficiency to have an effect on his off-field persona, however Henderson praised his pal for remaining his joyful, joking self, saying a clubhouse presence corresponding to Cowser’s is “what you need” presently of 12 months.
But the Orioles, with a two-game lead within the American League East, additionally want manufacturing. During their rebuild, they may maybe afford to permit a younger participant to climate his struggles within the majors. Whether they’re keen to do the identical with Cowser throughout a postseason push will likely be examined when Hicks returns as quickly as Monday.
“There’s no real soft landing in the big leagues, especially in August and you’re trying to win,” Hyde mentioned. “It’s not simple, and most of our video games we play are shut, and so the way you comfortable land a participant? It’s not ‘19, ‘20 or ‘21 here now. We’re attempting to win video games, and also you do the most effective you possibly can to place guys in place to have some success, attempt to have good conversations, attempt to make guys loosen up as a lot as doable, attempt to make guys be ok with themselves, attempt to give them confidence as a lot as doable, but it surely’s their job to carry out.
“We’re looking for guys who can help us win right now. We just try to make them feel as relaxed as possible, and hopefully, they do.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com