How Cowser believes he can return to form for O's in '27

BALTIMORE -- As Colton Cowser stood in front of his locker inside the visitors’ clubhouse at Yankee Stadium one afternoon during the final weekend of the Orioles’ 2026 season and reflected on his year, his self-awareness stood out. The 26-year-old outfielder was happy to discuss what went well, but he didn’t shy away from what had gone wrong.

“This year was interesting for me,” Cowser said. “Just because it felt like there were a lot of highs, but there were, obviously, a lot of lows.”

The No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and a former top prospect, Cowser is a key member of Baltimore’s young core that has largely underperformed in recent years, resulting in back-to-back seasons without a postseason appearance. At the same time, he’s a player the O’s likely need to get on track in order for the team to quickly turn things around.

In 2025, Cowser was limited to 360 plate appearances over 92 games due to injuries. This year, he stayed healthy the entire season and played in 142 games, though his number of plate appearances only went up to 392 -- down considerably from the 561 he compiled during his 153-game rookie campaign in '24.

For the first time in the big leagues, the left-handed-hitting Cowser was closer to a platoon player, often not drawing starts against lefty starters, resulting in only 65 plate appearances against southpaws.

“I think the role was a little different for me,” Cowser said. “Now, when I think, ‘Did I handle it all that well?’ No. But I think I was trying to just be more consistent with routines and things like that to better embody that role that I was in, and hopefully, working my way into being in the lineup every day is ultimately my goal next year.”

Cowser hit .158 (9-for-57) with one homer and a .445 OPS in his limited opportunities against left-handers. If he can show improvement on that front, more chances could come, which would help him return to being an everyday player.

Here are the other keys to Cowser returning to form in 2027.

Better results against fastballs

“From a standpoint of production this year, there are things that I did well for a period of time, and then there are things I didn’t do very well,” Cowser said. “I think I was just in my head about a lot of things in the batter’s box, understanding that I don’t cover certain pitches as well, so it kind of got me off the pitches that I do cover well. And then, all of a sudden, I look up and my four-seam [slugging percentage] is the lowest it’s been in my career so far.

“So from a hitting standpoint, I think getting back to doing what I do well and getting back on the fastball and adjusting like that is how I felt like I’ve always hit.”

Cowser nailed this one. His power has never been a product of waiting for breaking or offspeed pitches -- it comes by pouncing on fastballs and sending them over the wall to any field.

Cowser’s power numbers vs. fastballs by season
2024: 17 HRs, .542 SLG in 278 PA
2025: 12 HRs, .521 SLG in 186 PA
2026: 6 HRs, .423 SLG in 188 PA

The lows can’t be so low

“It never really felt like I felt all that great in the batter’s box. There were times, but then, it was very fleeting,” Cowser said. “I think just trying to close the gap on those fleeting moments and making those months where I have a .400 or .500 OPS, make them like a .600. Because then I know my months when I’m really good are going to be in the .800s. I just think, overall, that’ll help me just be a more productive player, and a winning player for this ballclub.”

This is another part of Cowser’s season that he accurately conveyed.

Cowser’s 2026 monthly splits
March/April: .186 AVG, .489 OPS in 26 games
May: .275 AVG, .891 OPS in 24 games
June: .230 AVG, .725 OPS in 26 games
July: .103 AVG, .403 OPS in 21 games
August: .273 AVG, .845 OPS in 25 games
September: .250 AVG, .666 OPS in 20 games

Cowser’s overall .226/.317/.370 slash line (a .687 OPS) would have looked a lot better if his slumps in March/April, and especially July, hadn’t dragged on for so long.

Continue to play an elite center field

Entering 2026, there were some questions surrounding whether Cowser could be an everyday center fielder after playing mostly corner outfield early in his MLB career.

The best part of Cowser’s season was proving any doubters of his defense wrong.

Cowser’s 10 Outs Above Average ranked in the 95th percentile in baseball. He recorded a team-high 10 Defensive Runs Saved, while his plus arm strength was routinely on display. And, of course, his homer-robbing catches brought national headlines -- namely his unbelievable game-ending grab at Coors Field on Aug. 31.

“I feel like I really showed that I can be capable of playing center field, and doing it at a high level,” Cowser said. “That’s something that I want to continue to do and, hopefully, just blend both sides of the ball into being a more complete player.”