388 replies to this topic

[Mackus]

That's definitely the biggest power projection I've seen for him by anybody.

37 in 1100 minor league PA. 17 in 400 this year at Norfolk, which is about a 25 pace. So not too far off.

[makoman]

That's definitely the biggest power projection I've seen for him by anybody.

37 in 1100 minor league PA. 17 in 400 this year at Norfolk, which is about a 25 pace. So not too far off.

Gunnar had 28 this year and I'd say he can hit 30. He had 11 in 295 PAs in Norfolk, which converts to 15 in 400 PAs if you want to compare to Cowser. 37 in 1087 minor league PAs. Obviously a younger age, but still, Cowser compares favorably there.

 

He's left handed, so he has a chance depending on the batted ball profile IMO. Obviously needs to be a major league hitter first.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

My Cowser comment has less to do with whether he will make it as a regular big leaguer and more to do with his in game power potential up here. Even if he makes it and becomes a good MLB hitter I see a Nimmo type profile

[makoman]

My Cowser comment has less to do with whether he will make it as a regular big leaguer and more to do with his in game power potential up here. Even if he makes it and becomes a good MLB hitter I see a Nimmo type profile

Nimmo was a HS guy so a bit younger, and in different leagues, but only hit 41 HR in 2612 minor league PAs.

 

Cowser (38 in 1174 PA, 1 in 30) seems to have a bit less but not far from the minor league HR #s of Gunnar (who was younger) (37 in 1087 PAs 1 in 29) and both a bit less than Adley (who was older) (30 in 780 PAs, 1 in 26), with a lot of overlap in teams and leagues. 30 may be pushing it, but he should be capable of 20+ HR power.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

One of Nimmos comps on BR is Bryan Reynolds. Nimmo just had his first 20 HR season this year with 24. Reynolds has gone 24,27,24the last 3 years. Thats like 90th percentile I see for a Cowser.

[makoman]

One of Nimmos comps on BR is Bryan Reynolds. Nimmo just had his first 20 HR season this year with 24. Reynolds has gone 24,27,24the last 3 years. Thats like 90th percentile I see for a Cowser.

Yeah when you said Nimmo I was thinking like 15ish. If you mean 24ish that seems good to me.

[CantonJester]

30 HRs is a cute pipedream

 

Noted.

 

I see a guy who's added 25 pounds of muscle, already has a 55 power tool, and we're not talking about cheap shots, either. In ST he hit a shot 476 feet to dead center, and in the AAA championship game he crushed a shot 455 feet to dead center. 

 

Oh, and the fact he will play half his games at freakin Oriole Park plays into that number, too. 

[BSLChrisStoner]

• Cowser's up-and-down '23 fueling drive for breakout 

[BSLSteveBirrer]

IIRC he didn't hit that well once he went back down either? Can't seem to find his game log after he was sent down.

[Mackus]

IIRC he didn't hit that well once he went back down either? Can't seem to find his game log after he was sent down.

 

https://www.baseball...e=bgl&year=2023

 

Not terrible, but not great.  777 OPS after returning to Norfolk.  A ton of Ks (53 in 155, 34%).

[DuffMan]

Im not convinced these reports of his OF defense in the minors are very accurate. Its not like any of them were saying he was a future GG anyway. Just no way to measure defense in the minors. In the eyes of the beholder. The dude couldnt even set up to field the balls and throw correctly. Just instinctual things that were bad. I refuse to believe he was "very good" seeing what he was up here. And I got on Gunnar for his defense early this year. He improved but with him youve always seen the athleticism and arm. It was more the consistency. Its still the consistency with him but you see the athleticism. Its apparent. Its always been apparent. Russ and I both said it and maybe others did too. Cowser looked so stiff, robotic and unathletic. Its just hard to see some huge change to that lack of athleticism.

How'd his D look last night?

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Rofl. You are hilarious. You come at me a lot and usually I just ignore it but Ill indulge you one time. Cowser was playing the Monster. Its never been particularly hard for anyone to play the Monster. What will be more telling is how he handles the range and throws needed in LF at OPACY. Ill say this for the last time in regards to Cowser. Im genuinely rooting for him but I still have some doubts. The start has been terrific and I hope he, you, anyone else can really stick it to me with some of the posts Ive made where Ive criticized him. Two weeks into the season aint that time. Things could turn quick and I dont want to have to have these gotcha post wars if the guy does struggle

[makoman]

He certainly may still fail, and even with a 1.000+ OPS he's still got a concerning 33% K rate, but I think at the very least he is showing that last year at the major league level probably wasn't the real him either. The current look is much more consistent with what he showed in the minors. Not playing scared anymore.

[DuffMan]

You called him stiff, robotic and unathletic, I saw nothing of the sort on those great grabs he made last night.   Now you want to deduct credit for those plays because of the "wall" so be it.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Here's what Law said about Cowser before the season:

 

Cowser reached the majors last year but continued to struggle with the same issues he had in Triple A in 2022: He doesn’t hit lefties, and he doesn’t hit non-fastballs, or at least doesn’t do either of these things well enough to project as an everyday player. He’s a 55 defender in a corner with a 70 arm, and he can handle center on a short-term basis, so there are plenty of ways for him to generate value — and maybe get more reps in the majors to work on either of those two deficiencies. I think he’s a good fourth outfielder right now, with some small chance to become more because he can defend, can whack a fastball, and does make pretty hard contact.

[BobPhelan]

He also made some great plays at LF at home this year already and has a better arm than Hays according to statcast.

[BaltBird 24]

He's OK.

[NewMarketSean]

Our best hitter so far.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Swag

[BSLChrisStoner]

What a series.

Looks like a young Markakis offensively (the swing, not the approach).

I didn't like the decision for him to come North with the Birds, because I didn't think he would play enough.

I was wrong obviously. He's already grabbed the LF job.

(Hays is a good player. Lot of teams would upgrade with Hays added to them...but Cowser is an upgrade over him here.)

Good for him.

The Orioles are going to be ridiculous for years.