Baltimore Orioles Congratulate Outfielder Colton Cowser for Winning Award

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser went back to the wall at Coors Field on August 31 and robbed Jake McCarthy of a walk-off home run. On Wednesday night in Las Vegas, he was rewarded for it.

Cowser received the 2026 Capital One Premier Play of the Year Award at the MLB Awards ceremony. David Wright presented the honor.

The Orioles congratulated him with a special video on X, including multiple angles of his game-saving catch. "The best home run robbery you’ll ever see 🐮 Congratulations to Colton Cowser on winning the 2026 Capital One Premier Play of the Year Award!" the team wrote.

The play came in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and the tying run at second base. Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge had just struck out Zac Veen when McCarthy drove a 1-0 pitch deep to center field.

Cowser started 329 feet from home plate, raced back, leaped above the wall and pulled the ball back. Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz called it the best catch he had ever seen, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The Orioles won 2-1 and improved to 69-69, moving within a half-game of an AL Wild Card spot at the time.

The award is definitely the brightest individual moment for Cowser in what was otherwise a mixed season for the 26-year-old. He appeared in 142 games and hit .226 with 13 home runs, 40 RBI and a .687 OPS.

The offensive numbers were not where Baltimore needs them to be from a starting outfielder. The defense was a different story.

Cowser recorded 10 Outs Above Average, per Statcast's Baseball Savant, and played 94 games in center field, establishing himself as the most valuable defensive outfielder on the roster. He also avoided the injured list for the second time in his career after a fractured left thumb and a concussion each took time out of his 2025 season.

The Orioles finished 79-82 and fourth in the AL East. They have plenty of work to do if they want to compete for the postseason next year and avoid missing out for a third straight year.

Cowser’s offensive ceiling is still the question heading into 2027. The glove is clearly solid and his game-saving catch proved it on a national stage. The bat needs to come around, though. Baltimore needs outfield production, not just outfield defense, if the Orioles are going to get back above .500 next season.