Kyle Stowers' absurd Triple-A performance proves he deserves another Orioles chance

It was no secret during spring training that the Orioles were going to have to make some tough roster calls that would leave players deserving of a spot in the major leagues down in Triple-A. One particular decision involved sending down Jackson Holliday to start the year, and he's off to a terrific start with the Norfolk Tides.

Another one of the players the Orioles sent down was Kyle Stowers, despite the fact that he had a strong spring training (to say the least) with seven home runs. Stowers was understandably displeased with the move, but instead of outwardly sulking, he is taking his frustrations out on the baseball field.

With the Tides facing the Chicago White Sox affiliate the Charlotte Knights on Wednesday, Stowers and the entire Norfolk lineup put together a performance for the ages. They scored in every inning except the second, and had seven runs in the seventh en route to a 26-11 demolition of the Knights.

Stowers himself had a big night of his own. He went 4-for-7 at the plate, driving in seven runs and walloping not one, not two, but three home runs. Oh, those home runs gave him the franchise record, passing Christian Walker's 42 home runs with the Tides.

Adding this performance to his already strong start to the season, Stowers isn't just kicking at the door for a major league call-up. He's practically knocked it off the hinges and onto the floor.

Kyle Stowers is proving he deserves another shot in the major leagues, and soon ... with the Orioles?

Stowers' first home run came in the first inning, a two-run shot that made it 3-0 Tides at the time. In the sixth, he broke Walker's franchise record with his second longball of the game, another two-run shot. A solo shot in the seventh made it a three-homer day for Stowers.

Each home run Stowers hit had an exit velocity of over 100 mph. He's not just hitting the ball out; he's tearing the cover off as he does it. His second home run was particularly explosive, with an exit velocity of 104.9 mph, which helped launch it 423 feet.

Through five games -- and yes, I know it's only five games -- Stowers has returned to destroying Triple-A pitching. He has 10 hits in 25 at-bats, with seven of those hits being either home runs or doubles. That's given him a .400/.423/1.080 slash line for an OPS of 1.503.

It's true, Kyle Stowers probably won't be getting everyday at-bats in Baltimore. Not with the starting three of Cedric Mullins, Anthony Santander, and Austin Hays patrolling the outfield. However, his performance in Triple-A is simply impossible to ignore, and he has clearly shown he is not a Triple-A player. He belongs in the major leagues, and the Orioles owe it to Stowers and themselves to give him another shot.