Colton Cowser #17

Selected in the first round (No. 5 overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles out of Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas... is the highest drafted player in Sam Houston State history... signed for a below-slot bonus of $4.9 million, marking the second straight year Baltimore took a college outfielder and cut a deal, having taken Heston Kjerstad with the No. 2 overall pick in 2020... enjoys building Legos -- had a build-off with Orioles teammate Gunnar Henderson in 2022 and won after completing a 7,541-piece Millennium Falcon... during his junior season in 2021 at Sam Houston State, he hit .374/.490/.680 (76-for-203) with 16 home runs, 10 doubles, two triples, 61 runs, 52 RBIs, and 42 walks in 55 games and ranked in the top five in the Southland Conference (SLC) in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, runs, hits, RBIs, and home runs... was named the SLC Player of the Year, becoming the second player in Sam Houston history to earn the honor... earned All-SLC First Team, SLC All-Defensive Team, and SLC All-Tournament team honors, leading Sam Houston to the SLC title game... became the first Bearkat in program history to be named a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, in addition to being named to the preseason All-SLC First Team, Baseball America preseason All-American First Team, Perfect Game preseason All-American Second Team, and Bobby Bragan Collegiate Slugger Award preseason watch list... ranked as the No. 10 overall draft prospect by MLB.com and the No. 11 prospect by Baseball America... attended Cy Ranch (TX) High School and led the team to a 32-9-2 record and a berth in the Class 6A state tournament as a senior in 2018... 23-year-old outfielder was ranked as Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 overall prospect as of July 5, 2023 when the Orioles called him up for his Major League debut

2023

Began the season with Triple-A Norfolk and, in 56 games through July 4, he slashed .330/.459/.537 with 10 doubles, one triple, 10 homers and 40 RBIs before the Orioles called him up

2022

Excelled in 2022, his first full pro season, reaching Triple-A and finishing with 19 homers and 18 steals to go along with a 15 percent walk rate... split his first full professional season between High-A Aberdeen, Double-A Bowie, and Triple-A Norfolk, combining to slash .278/.406/.469 (142-for-510) with 36 doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 114 runs scored, 66 RBI, and 18 stolen bases across the three levels... led O's Minor Leaguers in runs and walks (94), ranked second in doubles, third in hits and extra-base hits (57), tied for third in homers, fourth in on-base percentage and total bases (239), fifth in OPS (.875), seventh in RBIs and slugging percentage, and eighth in batting average and stolen bases... began the year with Aberdeen, appearing in 62 games... promoted to Bowie on 6/28; belted two home runs on 7/14 (G2) vs. Akron for his first professional multi-homer game... had two four-hit games for the Baysox on 8/7 at Harrisburg and 8/25 vs. Altoona... promoted to Norfolk on 8/29 and finished the season appearing in 27 games with the Tides... finished the year ranked as the No. 4 Orioles prospect and the No. 40 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline... entered 2023 as the No. 4 Orioles prospect, according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline; ranked as the No. 40 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 41 overall by Baseball America

2021

Finished with a .982 OPS over 32 games in his pro debut, spent mostly with Single-A Delmarva... made his professional debut with the FCL Orioles before earning a promotion to Delmarva, where he finished the season slashing .347/.476/.429 (34-for-98) with five doubles, one home run, 22 runs scored, 26 RBI, four stolen bases, and 22 walks to 19 strikeouts in 25 games... participated in the team's Fall Instructional League camp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla... ranked as the No. 5 Orioles prospect and the No. 98 overall prospect according to Baseball America.