BALTIMORE -- After putting on a defensive masterclass in center field on Sunday afternoon, Colton Cowser was right back at it on Monday night at Camden Yards.
The Orioles’ center fielder made a remarkable catch to end the bottom of the fifth inning in the series opener vs. the White Sox, taking away what likely would have been a home run for Miguel Vargas. Cowser got a great jump, then ran 99 feet (per Statcast) and made an exceptional grab while hitting up against the right-center-field wall.
If it looked familiar, then you probably watched Sunday’s game.
On Sunday, Cowser took away a probable homer from the Nationals’ Dylan Crews in the fifth. Monday’s defensive gem wasn’t in the exact same spot -- Cowser hit the wall a bit more to the right a day earlier -- but it was a similar type of play.
Cowser also made a remarkable spinning, off-balance throw to nab Washington’s Keibert Ruiz trying to stretch a single into a double to end the sixth inning of Sunday’s 6-4 loss.
Although Cowser mostly played corner outfield early in his four-year MLB career, the 26-year-old has continually proven he’s more than capable of handling center this year.
“His ability to go out there, it’s not reckless or careless, but he doesn’t have any fear out there when he’s playing center field, going into the wall, going into the gap, coming in on balls,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “[It’s] his closing speed, and obviously, his arm talent as well. ...
“He’s playing a great center field, and he puts a lot of work into it on his own, especially with [first-base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois] as well. So, I’m not surprised where he’s at defensively.”
Cowser may just have a knack for providing cases of déjà vu. Last month, he hit walk-off homers on consecutive days (May 24 vs. the Tigers and May 25 vs. the Rays) -- and sure enough, both of those went to right-center as well. This time, he was on the other side with the repeat home run robbery.