Colton Cowser Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	31
AVG	.452
OBP	.471
SLG	.935
HR	3

Full name Colton Dale Cowser
Born 03/20/2000 in Houston, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Sam Houston
Drafted in the 1st round (5th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2021 (signed for $4,900,000).

View Draft Report

In a year where teams are frustrated by the lack of college hitters with lengthy track records of production, Cowser is a rare safe harbor who provides a long history of hitting. He hit .374/.490/.680 as a second-year sophomore with 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He’s hit .354/.460/.608 for his career at Sam Houston State with more walks (78) than strikeouts (70). And he became the first player in school history to play for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team when he did so in 2019 after his freshman season, so scouts got to see him against top competition during the summer. That solid performance with Team USA helps blunt some of the criticisms that he played at a mid-major school. A high school teammate of Texas righthander and likely first-rounder Ty Madden (as well as 2019 supplemental first-round pick J.J. Goss and second-rounder Mathew Thompson), Cowser finished the season on an 18-game hitting streak. Cowser rarely misses a fastball. According to statistics compiled by Synergy, he has 17 extra-base hits on fastballs and just 19 swings and misses. He is more a hitter than a slugger for now, but he’s started to add strength and scouts wouldn’t be surprised to see his knack for hitting turn into 20-25 home run power eventually. Many of his home runs for now are pull shots or opposite-field balls that just clear the wall. Cowser is a plus runner who takes direct routes although his reads sometimes are a little slower than ideal. He shows an above-average arm when he lets loose and does a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly. He should be able to stay in center field at least for a few years, and maybe longer than that depending on how his body matures. As a lefthanded hitter and up-the-middle defender with excellent hand-eye coordination and speed, Cowser is one of the safer bets in the first round.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Medium

Track Record: Another fast-moving Orioles prospect, Cowser signed for a below-slot $4.9 million as the fifth overall pick in 2021, ended his first full season at Triple-A Norfolk in 2022, then was in the majors by early July 2023 to help provide center field cover. He had a .996 OPS at the time of his promotion, but after being sent back to the minors to work on being more aggressive in the strike zone, he compiled a .777 OPS and his strikeout rate spiked.

Scouting Report: Cowser’s tough major league debut didn’t dim the Orioles’ view of a player they believe still boasts one of the more attractive offensive profiles in their organization. Cowser has some of the most advanced plate discipline in the system, with good on-base ability and the capability to be an above-average hitter for average, even if there are some stark platoon splits on his résumé and there are swing-and-miss issues on non-fastballs. Cowser can have above-average power as he continues to learn which pitches he can best drive, and he improved his hard-hit rate substantially in 2023. Cowser’s above-average speed and arm allow him to play all three outfield positions comfortably, though he’ll probably be above-average in the corners and average to fringe-average in center.

The Future: Cowser has little left to prove in Triple-A, but it’s unclear whether there’s an opportunity with the Orioles for him to get the major league experience required for the next step in his development. He has the makings of a major league regular, potentially a first-division one, though there are aspects of his game that portend an even brighter future. He’ll be in the mix to break camp with the Orioles in 2024.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 55 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium

Track Record: The Orioles believed Cowser to be the best hitter in the country in the 2021 draft, even if signing him for a below-slot $4.9 million as the fifth overall pick skewed that impression. Cowser backed that up in his first full season in 2022, overcoming some early challenges at High-A Aberdeen before taking off and dominating Double-A Bowie with a 1.037 OPS in 49 games there. He was one of a handful of 2021 draftees to reach Triple-A.

Scouting Report: Cowser's special bat-to-ball skills showed up as he climbed through the minors. His plus hit tool impressed the Orioles with the amount of line drives and hard contact he produced even as there was a bit more in-zone whiff than they expected. Cowser's preferred opposite-field approach came into conflict with the team's damage-oriented swing decision mantra at times, but Cowser got better at tapping into his pull-side pop as the season went on, showing at least above-average power potential. His offensive path seems unsettled, though. There's a belief that he can both maintain a gap-based, on-base strategy at the top of a lineup or gear his approach toward more power and succeed at either. Cowser might not be more than an average center fielder, but he can handle the position well thanks to his smooth motions and range as an above-average runner. He could be above-average in a corner spot, with at least an above-average arm.

The Future: Cowser did his part by climbing through the minors quickly for an organization that hoped he would be ready to help when they contended. He has the floor of a solid-average regular, though his advanced bat could make him a first-division starter with continued refinement. Cowser will be back at Triple-A Norfolk to begin 2023, with the hopes of playing himself into a major league debut.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: Even selecting fifth overall in 2021, the Orioles feel they picked a premium college bat in Cowser, who signed for a below-slot $4.9 million. Cowser embodied the team’s focus on hitters who make hard contact and don’t strike out, which he demonstrated with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2019. He hit .374/.490/.680 with 16 homers and 17 steals in 55 games this spring to take Southland Conference player of the year honors in 2021. He spent a month at Low-A Delmarva to end his pro debut and walked more than he struck out.

Scouting Report: Cowser has always found the barrel, a skill that results in few whiffs and is aided by impressive swing decisions. He’s the type to spray line drives to all fields, but his swing path is presently more geared toward contact versus power. The Orioles believe he’s the rare college draftee who can add more strength and allow him to perhaps grow into 20-home run power to go along with his plus hit tool, and that any added power won’t take away from his strengths of controlling the zone. Cowser is an above-average runner with good instincts in center field, giving him solid-average potential there with the arm to allow him to play either corner.

The Future: Part of the allure of selecting Cowser was how quickly he might climb to the majors, where his table-setting ability would fit right in. Developing more power could allow him to be more, but Cowser has the makings of a first-division regular at present. He could begin at High-A Aberdeen in 2022 and ride a fast track to Baltimore by 2023.

Draft Prospects

In a year where teams are frustrated by the lack of college hitters with lengthy track records of production, Cowser is a rare safe harbor who provides a long history of hitting. He hit .374/.490/.680 as a second-year sophomore with 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He’s hit .354/.460/.608 for his career at Sam Houston State with more walks (78) than strikeouts (70). And he became the first player in school history to play for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team when he did so in 2019 after his freshman season, so scouts got to see him against top competition during the summer. That solid performance with Team USA helps blunt some of the criticisms that he played at a mid-major school. A high school teammate of Texas righthander and likely first-rounder Ty Madden (as well as 2019 supplemental first-round pick J.J. Goss and second-rounder Mathew Thompson), Cowser finished the season on an 18-game hitting streak. Cowser rarely misses a fastball. According to statistics compiled by Synergy, he has 17 extra-base hits on fastballs and just 19 swings and misses. He is more a hitter than a slugger for now, but he’s started to add strength and scouts wouldn’t be surprised to see his knack for hitting turn into 20-25 home run power eventually. Many of his home runs for now are pull shots or opposite-field balls that just clear the wall. Cowser is a plus runner who takes direct routes although his reads sometimes are a little slower than ideal. He shows an above-average arm when he lets loose and does a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly. He should be able to stay in center field at least for a few years, and maybe longer than that depending on how his body matures. As a lefthanded hitter and up-the-middle defender with excellent hand-eye coordination and speed, Cowser is one of the safer bets in the first round.

Minor League Top Prospects

The first-rounder from Sam Houston State had one of the more impressive pro debuts of any 2021 draftee. Cowser advanced quickly to Low-A, where he stood out to Delmarva manager Dave Anderson. “Another guy with a lot of tools—can run, can throw,” he said. “Commands the strike zone really well. He’s hit the ball all over the place . . . Just all-around play. He’s been here three weeks and we’ve seen a lot of different things from him.” In addition to his plus hit tool and plus running ability, Cowser has line drive power that’s mostly led to doubles, but the organization is confident that it will translate to more homers as he adds strength. Cowser also stood out in Low-A for his baserunning ability, defense in center field and an above-average arm to give him five average or better tools.

Top 100 Rankings

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium

Track Record: The Orioles believed Cowser to be the best hitter in the country in the 2021 draft, even if signing him for a below-slot $4.9 million as the fifth overall pick skewed that impression. Cowser backed that up in his first full season in 2022, overcoming some early challenges at High-A Aberdeen before taking off and dominating Double-A Bowie with a 1.037 OPS in 49 games there. He was one of a handful of 2021 draftees to reach Triple-A.

Scouting Report: Cowser's special bat-to-ball skills showed up as he climbed through the minors. His plus hit tool impressed the Orioles with the amount of line drives and hard contact he produced even as there was a bit more in-zone whiff than they expected. Cowser's preferred opposite-field approach came into conflict with the team's damage-oriented swing decision mantra at times, but Cowser got better at tapping into his pull-side pop as the season went on, showing at least above-average power potential. His offensive path seems unsettled, though. There's a belief that he can both maintain a gap-based, on-base strategy at the top of a lineup or gear his approach toward more power and succeed at either. Cowser might not be more than an average center fielder, but he can handle the position well thanks to his smooth motions and range as an above-average runner. He could be above-average in a corner spot, with at least an above-average arm.

The Future: Cowser did his part by climbing through the minors quickly for an organization that hoped he would be ready to help when they contended. He has the floor of a solid-average regular, though his advanced bat could make him a first-division starter with continued refinement. Cowser will be back at Triple-A Norfolk to begin 2023, with the hopes of playing himself into a major league debut.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium

Track Record: The Orioles believed Cowser to be the best hitter in the country in the 2021 draft, even if signing him for a below-slot $4.9 million as the fifth overall pick skewed that impression. Cowser backed that up in his first full season in 2022, overcoming some early challenges at High-A Aberdeen before taking off and dominating Double-A Bowie with a 1.037 OPS in 49 games there. He was one of a handful of 2021 draftees to reach Triple-A.

Scouting Report: Cowser's special bat-to-ball skills showed up as he climbed through the minors. His plus hit tool impressed the Orioles with the amount of line drives and hard contact he produced even as there was a bit more in-zone whiff than they expected. Cowser's preferred opposite-field approach came into conflict with the team's damage-oriented swing decision mantra at times, but Cowser got better at tapping into his pull-side pop as the season went on, showing at least above-average power potential. His offensive path seems unsettled, though. There's a belief that he can both maintain a gap-based, on-base strategy at the top of a lineup or gear his approach toward more power and succeed at either. Cowser might not be more than an average center fielder, but he can handle the position well thanks to his smooth motions and range as an above-average runner. He could be above-average in a corner spot, with at least an above-average arm.

The Future: Cowser did his part by climbing through the minors quickly for an organization that hoped he would be ready to help when they contended. He has the floor of a solid-average regular, though his advanced bat could make him a first-division starter with continued refinement. Cowser will be back at Triple-A Norfolk to begin 2023, with the hopes of playing himself into a major league debut.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 55. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
BA Grade: 55/High

August Update: After struggling over the first two months of the season at High-A Aberdeen, Cowser started to turn things around in June, earning promotion to Double-A at the end of the month. Since that point Cowser has been one of the best hitters in the minor leagues as he&#39s shown a well rounded skillset on both sides of the ball with increased home run power almost immediately upon entering Double-A. A Top 100 prospect once again, Cowser is an arrow-up prospect in the second half of the season.

Track Record: Even selecting fifth overall in 2021, the Orioles feel they picked a premium college bat in Cowser, who signed for a below-slot $4.9 million. Cowser embodied the team&#39s focus on hitters who make hard contact and don&#39t strike out, which he demonstrated with USA Baseball&#39s Collegiate National Team in 2019. He hit .374/.490/.680 with 16 homers and 17 steals in 55 games this spring to take Southland Conference player of the year honors in 2021. He spent a month at Low-A Delmarva to end his pro debut and walked more than he struck out.

Scouting Report: Cowser has always found the barrel, a skill that results in few whiffs and is aided by impressive swing decisions. He&#39s the type to spray line drives to all fields, but his swing path is presently more geared toward contact versus power. The Orioles believe he&#39s the rare college draftee who can add more strength and allow him to perhaps grow into 20-home run power to go along with his plus hit tool, and that any added power won&#39t take away from his strengths of controlling the zone. Cowser is an above-average runner with good instincts in center field, giving him solid-average potential there with the arm to allow him to play either corner.

The Future: Part of the allure of selecting Cowser was how quickly he might climb to the majors, where his table-setting ability would fit right in. Developing more power could allow him to be more, but Cowser has the makings of a first-division regular at present. He could begin at High-A Aberdeen in 2022 and ride a fast track to Baltimore by 2023.

Scouting Grades
Hit: 60. Power: 50. Speed:55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 55.
Track Record: Even selecting fifth overall in 2021, the Orioles feel they picked a premium college bat in Cowser, who signed for a below-slot $4.9 million. Cowser embodied the team’s focus on hitters who make hard contact and don’t strike out, which he demonstrated with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team in 2019. He hit .374/.490/.680 with 16 homers and 17 steals in 55 games this spring to take Southland Conference player of the year honors in 2021. He spent a month at Low-A Delmarva to end his pro debut and walked more than he struck out.

Scouting Report: Cowser has always found the barrel, a skill that results in few whiffs and is aided by impressive swing decisions. He’s the type to spray line drives to all fields, but his swing path is presently more geared toward contact versus power. The Orioles believe he’s the rare college draftee who can add more strength and allow him to perhaps grow into 20-home run power to go along with his plus hit tool, and that any added power won’t take away from his strengths of controlling the zone. Cowser is an above-average runner with good instincts in center field, giving him solid-average potential there with the arm to allow him to play either corner.

The Future: Part of the allure of selecting Cowser was how quickly he might climb to the majors, where his table-setting ability would fit right in. Developing more power could allow him to be more, but Cowser has the makings of a first-division regular at present. He could begin at High-A Aberdeen in 2022 and ride a fast track to Baltimore by 2023.
The first-rounder from Sam Houston State had one of the more impressive pro debuts of any 2021 draftee. Cowser advanced quickly to Low-A, where he stood out to Delmarva manager Dave Anderson. “Another guy with a lot of tools—can run, can throw,” he said. “Commands the strike zone really well. He’s hit the ball all over the place . . . Just all-around play. He’s been here three weeks and we’ve seen a lot of different things from him.” In addition to his plus hit tool and plus running ability, Cowser has line drive power that’s mostly led to doubles, but the organization is confident that it will translate to more homers as he adds strength. Cowser also stood out in Low-A for his baserunning ability, defense in center field and an above-average arm to give him five average or better tools.
In a year where teams are frustrated by the lack of college hitters with lengthy track records of production, Cowser is a rare safe harbor who provides a long history of hitting. He hit .374/.490/.680 as a second-year sophomore with 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He's hit .354/.460/.608 for his career at Sam Houston State with more walks (78) than strikeouts (70). And he became the first player in school history to play for USA Baseball's Collegiate National Team when he did so in 2019 after his freshman season, so scouts got to see him against top competition during the summer. That solid performance with Team USA helps blunt some of the criticisms that he played at a mid-major school. A high school teammate of Texas righthander and likely first-rounder Ty Madden (as well as 2019 supplemental first-round pick J.J. Goss and second-rounder Mathew Thompson), Cowser finished the season on an 18-game hitting streak. Cowser rarely misses a fastball. According to statistics compiled by Synergy, he has 17 extra-base hits on fastballs and just 19 swings and misses. He is more a hitter than a slugger for now, but he's started to add strength and scouts wouldn't be surprised to see his knack for hitting turn into 20-25 home run power eventually. Many of his home runs for now are pull shots or opposite-field balls that just clear the wall. Cowser is a plus runner who takes direct routes although his reads sometimes are a little slower than ideal. He shows an above-average arm when he lets loose and does a good job of getting rid of the ball quickly. He should be able to stay in center field at least for a few years, and maybe longer than that depending on how his body matures. As a lefthanded hitter and up-the-middle defender with excellent hand-eye coordination and speed, Cowser is one of the safer bets in the first round.