Colton Cowser’s leash may not be long if this Orioles top prospect has a good spring

Colton Cowser is a guy who Baltimore Orioles fans occupy somewhat split camps. Some see Cowser as a defensively gifted outfielder who just has to make a couple of adjustments at the plate and get completely healthy to be a quality major league hitter. Then there are the doubters who saw his offensive collapse in 2025 as a sign of things to come and who argue that the Orioles should not bank on Cowser figuring things out at all.

What everyone agrees on is that 2026 is going to be a key season for Cowser. One rough season aggravated by multiple injuries can be written off as an outlier. If he goes out and doesn't hit this season after getting a full offseason to reset and get healthy, there is probably something deeper causing problems.

As it turns out, Cowser may have a shorter leash in center field than anyone thought. During a recent roundtable of Orioles experts/insiders, Enrique Bradfield Jr. came up multiple times as a potential option in center in 2026 if Cowser stumbles again.

If Enrique Bradfield Jr. looks good in camp, the Orioles may have to take a long look at Colton Cowser's future

Orioles fans have been waiting and hoping that Bradfield Jr. would figure things out in the minor leagues to justify where Baltimore drafted him. While the former #17 pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has shown a bit of a mixed track record at the plate in the minor leagues, Bradfield Jr. has shown flashes at the plate, while his speed and Gold Glove-caliber defense are game-changers.

For the moment, Cowser has to still be considered the favorite to win the job as an incumbent that doesn't require a roster move. However, if Bradfield Jr. has a strong spring against quality opposition and continues it into the early portions of the minor league season, the pressure is going to be on Cowser to justify staying in the lineup.

With all of the moves the Orioles made this offseason to push their chips in and go for it in 2026, they can't afford to do anything else but be open to roster changes sooner than they would prefer. If Bradfield Jr. makes Baltimore a better team than Cowser does, they have to at least think about it if they don't want to send the wrong message to the guys they brought in who expected to compete for a playoff spot.

We probably won't see any changes coming right out of spring training here, but it could lay the groundwork for a seismic shift when it comes to the future of the Orioles' outfield.