With Triple-A Norfolk, Colton Cowser went into every sport with an overarching purpose, one he as soon as talked about to left-hander Bruce Zimmermann.
“Doesn’t matter how it happens, but twice a day, get on base,” Zimmermann recalled. “I watched him [get] two hits and a walk, two walks and a hit. Sometimes, it was three walks. He had a very mature approach.”
In Triple-A, Cowser succeeded in that effort extra usually than he got here quick. He’s one-for-one within the majors.
In his main league debut Wednesday evening, the Orioles’ No. 2 prospect achieved his purpose by reaching twice, singling in Baltimore’s first run of a 6-3 victory over the New York Yankees and strolling later within the sport. After posting a .459 on-base share this 12 months for the Tides — getting on base a number of occasions in 37 of his 56 video games — he shortly utilized these abilities within the majors.
But as a lot as that facet of Cowser’s sport may show helpful for an Orioles staff that had misplaced six of its previous seven video games earlier than his call-up, there’s hope the 23-year-old outfielder may also provide a jolt by being the identical “goofball” that teammates mentioned he was in Triple-A.
“He can bring a lot of energy, and I hope that the personality he showed in Norfolk comes out and he just plays with the enthusiasm he had down there,” beginning pitcher Cole Irvin mentioned. “He’s super vibrant, energetic, and that’s how he plays the game. He makes incredible plays, is a spark to any lineup, and he’s obviously a great energy in the clubhouse. He’s got all the tools.”
Manager Brandon Hyde mentioned he hasn’t gotten to see a lot of Cowser’s character, joking, “I think he kind of hides it from me.” But Hyde seen earlier than Wednesday’s sport how chatty Cowser was across the cages throughout batting apply.
“We could use a little of that, too,” Hyde mentioned. “We could use a little energy.”
The Orioles had been dragging towards the All-Star break, enduring what was by far the worst stretch of their season. The previous week has seen quite a few wasted alternatives offensively, and one other one was presumably brewing in Wednesday’s sixth inning earlier than Cowser lower a two-run deficit in half along with his first main league hit. He made outs in his first two journeys, the primary approaching a 108 mph lineout, however delivered in an enormous spot.
“You can put as much pressure [on yourself] as you want, but that’s not going to help you,” infielder Gunnar Henderson mentioned. “I feel like he’s the type of guy to not go out there and put any pressure, just going to go out there and be himself.”
Henderson, who entered the season because the group’s high prospect, and Cowser are shut. Last season, the pair of “Star Wars” followers competed in a Lego build-off, with Cowser finishing the 7,500-piece Millennium Falcon set first as Henderson’s schedule crammed up late within the 12 months due to his promotion to the majors.
But Cowser hopes his personal call-up will get him going on this 12 months’s race. Spending a part of the season on the Orioles’ Sarasota, Florida, complicated to rehabilitate a quadriceps harm, he’s been unable to get this 12 months’s construct — the Razor Crest ship from “The Mandalorian” — off the bottom. He hopes “now that I’m going to be in one spot,” he’ll be capable of make some progress.
Henderson mentioned there’s “no chance” his buddy makes up for misplaced time, ensuring to level out that Cowser requested him to pause his progress so he may have the prospect to catch up.
“Y’all can jot that down for future use,” Henderson quipped.
Even if Cowser’s arrival to the majors doesn’t spark his Lego constructing, there’s loads of hope that it’ll spark the Orioles. Many of their key bats have had hassle producing of late, with the prior week seeing them common 2.6 runs a sport. Those slumping included heart fielder Cedric Mullins, who earlier than two doubles Wednesday was 5-for-37 with no extra-base hits since coming back from a proper groin pressure.
Heading into Wednesday’s sport, Mullins summed up his efficiency off the injured listing as “honestly, not good.” He mentioned he’s been learning video, evaluating his latest at-bats with these earlier than his late May harm in hopes of recognizing any modifications he can undo.
“It can be tough to get something going by yourself when the team as a whole is somewhat struggling,” Mullins mentioned. “But at the same time, there are going to be stretches like this over the course of a season, individual- and team-wise, and it’s a matter of continuing to stay positive, continuing to go about each day differently than the one before, especially after failure. Just keeping a strong, positive mindset.”
Cowser is a pure at drawing that out of others, former Norfolk teammates say. Zimmermann described him as “an oddball in the best sense of the word,” saying he “definitely keeps the clubhouse interesting.” Reliever Nick Vespi mentioned Cowser, by “just having fun and being a kid,” units a regular for different gamers to take pleasure in themselves.
Cowser usually provides Jordan Westburg, the membership’s No. 4 prospect promoted final week, a tough time for a way little the sometimes stoic infielder flashes a smile, however Westburg couldn’t hold one off his face speaking about Cowser’s debut.
“He’s just such a goofball, it’s kind of hard for me not to smile at him,” Westburg mentioned. “I’m not a super serious guy. I just don’t smile as much as maybe the next person, but yeah, he brings it out of me. He knows how to get me to laugh and keep it light.”
Most members of the Orioles’ clubhouse are dealing with strain to make the postseason that hasn’t existed throughout their careers. Cowser’s levity, then, might be simply what they want. His persevering with to achieve twice a day wouldn’t harm, both.
“He’s definitely the goofball in the clubhouse, always goofing around and making everyone happy,” Vespi mentioned. “Then, when the lights come on, he’s ready to go.”
Orioles at Yankees
Thursday, 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Orioles at Twins
Friday, 8:10 p.m.
Stream: Apple TV+
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com