Orioles fan favorite hits IL as roster gets thinner after Opening weekend

PSA: Do not slide head first into first base when trying to beat out a ground ball for a base hit.

We're off to a tough start, Orioles fans. On Monday morning, we learned that outfielder Colton Cowser is officially heading to the IL to recover from a broken left thumb. Cowser sustained the injury during Sunday's matchup in Toronto. Cowser dove into first base trying to eek out a base hit and his thumb got caught in the base, bending backwards in the process.

Cowser initially remained in the game as a defender but was removed before his subsequent at-bat. Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after Sunday's game that Cowser was not able to swing the bat effectively and at that point, Hyde made the call to take him out.

At present, it's being reported that Cowser could miss between 2-4 weeks while recovering from the injury. As we saw on Sunday, the defense isn't going to be the issue. It's likely going to be at least a week before Cowser starts swinging a bat again. Depending on the type of break, it could wind up being a simple matter of pain tolerance. If that's the case, we'll likely see him on the field in short order.

It's not clear how the injury will impact his performance when he returns. Some thumb injuries can sap power from hitters. Seeing as Cowser's thumb bent backwards during the slide, it's possible there was a little ligament damage as well, which would be a more significant problem. However, I'm not a doctor and am, of course, just guessing.

Colton Cowser heading to IL thanks to a broken thumb

In Cowser's stead, the Orioles have recalled outfielder Dylan Carlson to take his place on the active roster. Carlson had gotten off to a hot start this year and looked solid during spring training. He hasn't been an effective major leaguer in a couple years but flashed lots of potential as a prospect.

Carlson was an offseason signing this past winter. Initially, the news was a bit of a surprise as the Orioles' outfield was already a bit jammed up. However, we're now seeing how that depth is a good thing and we're over here left eating our words from a couple months ago.

It'll be curious to see how Brandon Hyde builds the lineups in Cowser's absence. Carlson is a switch hitter and a strong defender. Heston Kjerstad, who could stand to gain some additional playing time with Cowser out, is a lefty. Kjerstad got limited playing time over the weekend, even against the Jays' righties. The O's are facing a lefty this afternoon, as well as on Wednesday.