Spring training is winding down in Sarasota for the Orioles, and with that comes some difficult roster decisions the team must make. Plenty of players deserve a spot on the 26-man roster, but since the team can only carry 26, some players unfortunately draw the short end of the stick.
One of those players who got the tough break was Kyle Stowers. In camp in the middle of a crowded outfield picture, Stowers was optioned to minor-league camp on Friday as part of a wave of moves by the team that included Heston Kjerstad and top prospect Jackson Holliday also being sent to the minors.
When asked about the demotion, Stowers understandably wasn't thrilled, but his answer was more heartbreaking than you might have thought.
Kyle Stowers offers heartbreaking response to demotion
Stowers certainly deserved a spot in the majors thanks to the strong spring he put together. He had a .256/.267/.744 slash line for a 1.011 OPS. He added seven home runs and 14 RBIs in 43 at-bats over 19 Grapefruit League games.
The unfortunate reality Stowers faces is that there are too many talented outfielders vying for only four of five roster spots. There isn't room for everyone, so a player like Stowers gets sent down to the minors once again.
Stowers had a strong showing in 2022 when he was called up in the second half of the season and was able to parlay that into a spot on the Opening Day roster in 2023. He was lost in the shuffle in the majors and was fighting for playing time, ultimately only playing in 14 games and none after May 14. He spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Norfolk, where he played well enough when he wasn't dealing with injury.
Kyle Stowers has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues. He is a major-league caliber player and the best shot for him to get consistent, everyday playing time in the majors is if the Orioles trade him, because there just isn't room for him. The Orioles haven't shown a willingness to do so, so for now he's stuck in Triple-A again.