4 deserving Orioles players who'll be squeezed off 2024 Opening Day roster

Baltimore is going to have some really good players hanging out in the minor leagues to start the 2024 season.
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Kyle Stowers

Given what Stowers has done this spring, it would be wild to see him not make the Opening Day roster. However, he is dealing with the same issues with roster crowding that Kjerstad is, and is currently in a tight battle with Colton Cowser for an Opening Day spot in the outfield.

Stowers has certainly made his case this spring. After his three-homer game over the weekend, Stowers now has a 1.181 OPS with seven home runs this spring. It has been nice to see him showcase the talent that made him one of the Orioles' best position prospects, but it may not be enough.

As good as Stowers has been this spring, Colton Cowser has somehow been even better. In his 13 games this spring, Cowser is slashing .364/.488/.758 with four homers of his own. Given that Stowers' previous two seasons in the big leagues haven't gone all that well, Baltimore seems like they could go with the hot hand and higher ceiling guy in Cowser.

Stowers does still have a case, however. Not only did Cowser also struggle in his first look at the big leagues, but Stowers has the experience edge. On top of that, Cowser is more highly thought of in the long-term, and if Baltimore's plan for the fourth outfielder they carry is to not play them too often, the Orioles may want to make sure Cowser is getting regular at-bats in the minor leagues while rotating Stowers into the lineup every now and again.

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