Baltimore Orioles: Bowie Baysox should have O’s fans excited

One of the hottest teams in baseball right now, the Baltimore Orioles have won eight straight games and sit just one game under .500 heading into Tuesday’s action. Baltimore’s season is absolutely incredible, and the good news for Orioles fans is that there’s even more to be excited about in the future.

Why Baltimore Orioles fans should be excited about the Bowie Baysox and the future

Obviously starting pitcher Grayson Rodriguez is the franchise’s best remaining prospect, but there’s also plenty to be excited about with their Double-A team, the Bowie Baysox. This past week, they played the Somerset Patriots. With the Baysox, there are two players who stood out: Center fielder Colton Cowser, who is ranked 42rd in MLB’s top 100 prospects, and third baseman Cesar Pierto.

Colton Cowser — The lefty batter stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 195 pounds. Cowser was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 draft, and he is already flying through the farm system. He is projected to be in the MLB next year and throwing him in the outfield with Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays will make this team downright scary.

Cowser had six hits and a home run in the series against the Patriots. On the season, he has six home runs, 28 RBI, and 17 stolen bases with an OPS of .836. Cowser can also play the corner spots, and he is truly a five tool player.

The Baltimore Orioles are in a fantastic spot with all of the young talent they have on their current roster and coming through the farm system.

Cesar Prieto — Also a lefty, Prieto stands at 5-foot-9 and weighs in at 175 pounds. He doesn’t come with nearly as much hype as Cower, but he’s going to be very good in his own right.

Pierto was a stud in Cuba and the Orioles signed him in their 2020-2021 international class. He was so good, he was hitting .400 with a league-record 44-game hitting streak. He started the year in High-A, but quickly left after having an OPS of 1.000 in 25 games. He has some defensive versatility as well playing third base, second base, and shortstop. His defense at third base against the Patriots was noteworthy as he made a few great plays.

On the season, he has stolen five bases. He’s had a hard time adjusting to Double-A with an OPS just under .700. He has just two home runs opposed to his seven in High-A. He is still projected to hit the big leagues in 2023, and he has way too much talent not to figure out. Every level has an adjustment period, and he’s going through it.

If he hits the big league roster with Cowser next season, there won’t be many holes in the Orioles lineup. I can’t wait to see how these kids continue to progress through the system.