SEATTLE -- Colton Cowser is ready to resume his sophomore MLB season.
On Monday, the Orioles reinstated Cowser from the 60-day injured list after the 25-year-old outfielder missed about two months due to a left thumb fracture. Cowser traveled with the team to Seattle and will presumably return to Baltimore’s lineup for Tuesday night’s series opener vs. the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
The O’s designated outfielder Cooper Hummel for assignment to clear room on both the 26-man active roster and the 40-man roster, which remains full.
Cowser, the 2024 American League Rookie of the Year Award runner-up, has played only four games in ‘25 -- all during the season-opening series in Toronto. He went 2-for-16 (.125) with one home run and one RBI before fracturing the thumb on a headfirst slide into first base in the finale vs. the Jays on March 30.
“It was unfortunate,” Cowser said last month. “I know that it’s not a baseball play that you’re really supposed to make, but sometimes, the instincts take over, and hindsight, I could have just dogged it out of the box and not really put an effort in, but at the time, was just trying to get the tying runner up to the plate. I’m always going to hustle, that’s just kind of who I am.
“Definitely, going forward, going to be definitely more cautious with that and be a little bit smarter.”
Last year, Cowser was a key part of the Orioles’ lineup, batting .242 with 24 doubles, three triples, 24 home runs, 69 RBIs and a .768 OPS over 153 games. The O’s are eager to welcome him back, especially considering the state of the club at the moment.
Injuries have hampered Baltimore throughout its disappointing 22-36 start to the season, and its luck on that front hasn’t improved of late. Center fielder Cedric Mullins went on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain on Friday, then first baseman Ryan Mountcastle was placed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain of his own on Saturday.
With Mullins out, Cowser could get the bulk of the starts in center, a spot that has recently been filled by either utility man Jorge Mateo or Dylan Carlson. Once Mullins returns, Cowser will mostly play in the corners, where he spends the majority of his time.
Cowser played six Minor League rehab games (three apiece at High-A Aberdeen and Triple-A Norfolk), as he quickly proved he was ready to come back. During the trio of games at Norfolk, he went 6-for-11 (.545) with four doubles and three RBIs.
The Orioles’ injured list is down to 11 players, and that number should soon drop further.
All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg (left hamstring strain) is nearing a return. The 26-year-old has played three rehab games at Norfolk and could also be reinstated during this week’s West Coast road trip through Seattle and West Sacramento.
Outfielders Ramón Laureano (left ankle sprain) and Tyler O’Neill (left shoulder impingement) are on the right track as well, each having resumed baseball activities. O’Neill should begin a rehab assignment soon, while Laureano could possibly return without playing in Minor League games.
The O’s are hopeful neither Mullins nor Mountcastle will miss more than the minimum 10 days.
Heading into this road swing, the Orioles have won six of their past eight games and are coming off a three-game home sweep of the White Sox, their first sweep of the season.