Orioles rookie Colton Cowser is climbing the AL Rookie of the Year rankings and is on track to make MLB history with a potential win.
After a challenging debut in 2023, where he struggled with a .433 OPS in 26 games, Cowser excelled in Triple-A, hitting .300/.417/.520/.937 with 17 homers in 87 games with the Tides. Despite his success and helping the Tides secure their first Triple-A championship since 1983, the 24-year-old was eager for another opportunity in the majors.
The Orioles, known for their wealth of top prospects, have an urgency to showcase their talent. This was evident with Jackson Holliday, whose initial MLB stint did not go well—he batted just 2-for-34 before being sent back to Norfolk. After refining his swing, Holliday earned another call-up and has since hit five home runs, demonstrating significant improvement.
The Baltimore Orioles have many top-tier prospects, creating a strong push to get them into the big leagues as soon as possible. This urgency was evident with Jackson Holliday, whose initial MLB appearance did not go well—he batted just 2-for-34 and was quickly sent back to Norfolk.
In the minors, Holliday worked on improving his swing and eventually earned another chance in the majors. His second stint has been much more successful, with him hitting five home runs since his return.
“I’m not aiming to hit home runs,” Holliday explained. “I’m just focusing on hitting the ball hard and making solid contact. When that happens, good things usually follow. Right now, it just happens that my hard hits are going over the fence quite frequently.”
Cowser, a consistent Rookie of the Year contender, has been exceptional since early July. In his last 30 games, the left-handed outfielder has posted a .318 batting average, with 35 hits, six home runs, 20 RBIs, and 22 runs scored.
His recent performance has helped him stand out among AL rookies, leading in home runs with 18 and ranking second in WAR with 3.2. He also ranks third in RBIs, fourth in slugging percentage, sixth in wRC+, and seventh in runs scored.
Cowser’s impressive play has ignited enthusiasm in Baltimore, where he has become a fan favorite, tying for third in homers for the Orioles and ranking second in WAR behind Gunnar Henderson.
If Cowser wins the Rookie of the Year award, it would mark the first time in Orioles history that the team has had back-to-back Rookie of the Year winners, making Baltimore only the fifth AL team to achieve this. It would also be the first occurrence of consecutive Rookie of the Year winners in the American League since the 2004 and 2005 Oakland Athletics.
