Grapefruit and Cactus League games are underway, which means it’s time to look at the future of the Baltimore Orioles.
You will get to see a bunch of top prospects play over the next few weeks, which means it’s a good time to start discussing which prospects we should keep a close eye on this spring.
With that being said, I have constructed a list of five O’s top prospects that are must-watch for the next month.
Colton Cowser – OF
While 2023 was a rough start to Colton Cowser’s MLB career, he’s still one of the best outfield prospects out there.
The 23-year-old former fifth overall pick in 2021 absolutely tore it up at Triple-A Norfolk in 2023 and even won the Triple-A National Championship MVP.
Cowser’s big league career has been a struggle. In 26 games, the Sam Houston product slashed just .115/.286/.148 with a .434 OPS. He had seven total hits, two doubles and four RBIs while also walking 13 times. It wasn’t the Cowser we wanted to see, but it was just a glimpse of the makeup.
Cowser has started spring training on a hot note, as he hit a walk-off two-run home run to win the spring opener for the Birds. Cowser in the next two games would collect three walks and strike out just once. He is currently slashing .333/.714/1.333 with a 2.047 OPS in a short sample size of three games.
Cowser is trying to break camp and make the Opening Day roster as a fourth outfielder, especially with how the O’s outfield depth is so deep.
Cade Povich – LHP
Does everyone remember the Jorge López trade back in 2022? At the time of the trade, fans were upset with the O’s trading away an All-Star closer for a couple pitching prospects and a serviceable bullpen arm in Yennier Canó.
One of those pitching prospects who came from the Minnesota Twins was left-hander Cade Povich, a guy that I truly believe will get his fair chance this season to make the big leagues.
His 2023 season was average, as he had a 5.04 ERA in 28 starts. He did, however, tally 171 strikeouts and held batters to a .224 average. Povich is a candidate to fill that fifth starter spot for the Orioles when it comes to Opening Day due to Kyle Bradish and John Means not being scheduled to pitch for a while.
Povich has one start under his belt this spring, and while the start was rocky to begin, he got the job done. The crafty lefty would toss two scoreless innings, giving up just one hit, walking two batters and striking out two.
Keep an eye on Povich this spring. He’s right there on the doorstep to the big leagues, and we could see him in orange and black sooner rather than later.
Heston Kjerstad – OF
The outfield depth is deep for the Orioles. Players like Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander are the three outfielders penciled in for the Opening Day roster. But who else makes the cut?
Well, Heston Kjerstad is another option, who had a taste of the big leagues at the end of last year.
Kjerstad’s 2023 season was significant, to say the least. Starting the season in Double-A Bowie and building all the way up to making his MLB debut in September, Kjerstad’s time in the majors was short but sweet. In 13 games, Kjerstad collected seven hits, two home runs, three RBIs and a .748 OPS.
Kjerstad is not off to the hottest start thus far in spring, as the powerful lefty has just one hit in 11 at-bats. While it’s still early, it’s important that he gets rolling soon, especially with Cowser having such a great start to the spring, if he wants to secure a spot on the 26-man roster.
Wandisson Charles – RHP
The biggest question of the upcoming season is, who makes the bullpen? There are obvious names like Craig Kimbrel and Yennier Canó, but what other arms will round out the pen?
Well, it’s always nice to have a bona fide flamethrower. So how about Wandisson Charles?
Charles is an older prospect, entering the season at 27 years old, but the way he looks early in spring, he could be the surprise addition the Orioles need for the upcoming season.
Charles’ 2023 season was fun of ups and downs, as he had a 4.57 ERA in 45.1 innings, which doesn’t look promising on paper. Then you see that he held batters to just a .169 batting average.
In his one appearance thus far in spring, Charles pitched one inning, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out a batter. The best part was that he topped his fastball at 99 mph and stayed consistent, hitting at least 97 mph on the radar gun.
With Félix Bautista out for the 2024 season, is Charles the guy that can bring the heat? If he has a great spring, maybe we see him break camp with the big league club.
Jackson Holliday – INF
We have to talk about the No. 1 prospect in baseball. Jackson Holliday has as bright of a future a player can have. Any prospect that starts the 2023 season in Low-A Delmarva and using his talent and skill can build all the way up to Triple-A Norfolk is remarkable.
But is he Opening Day ready?
Holliday’s 2023 season was electric, to say the least. In 125 games, Holliday slashed .323/.442/.449 with a .941 OPS, collecting 154 total hits, 30 doubles, nine triples and 12 home runs. He also walked 101 times and stole 24 bases in 33 attempts, all at the ripe age of 19.
Holliday’s spring has gotten off to a slow start. In seven at-bats, Holliday has just one hit and a walk and has struck out five times.
That does not mean, however, that it’s time to panic. It’s spring training, and some things take time. The big question: Is Holliday going to make the Opening Day roster at 20 years of age?
Are there any prospects who you think we missed? Any you think have a chance to make that next step? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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