The 2021 MLB Draft will begin on July 11, 2021, in Atlanta, Ga. We take a look at Colton Cowser, one of the top-ranked outfielders in the draft.
Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State University
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 195 lbs
Age: 21 yrs
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
2019 Stats: .361/.450/.602
2020 Stats: .255/.379/.364
2021 Stats: .354/.475/.646
Scouting Grades
Hit: 50
Power: 50
Run: 55
Field: 55
Throw: 55
Overall: 50
Cowser is a prospect that has not received as much attention as some of the other top prospects since he plays for Sam Houston State University, but he will be a first-round pick this year. The Cypress, TX native has racked up many honors throughout his collegiate career. Cowser was the Southland Conference Hitter of the year in 2019 and he made the USA collegiate national team the same year as well. He had a down year in 2020 but has recently picked up the fire and returned to full-form this year.
Strengths
Cowser does not excel in any category and he has some issues in each, but he is average or above in all of them. Some people have concerns about his ability to hit in the majors due to his inconsistency throughout college at times. Cowser has decent power in his swing, and scouts believe he could have more, but he is hard to evaluate since the pitching in the Southland Conference is poor. His hands stay back well and he uses his long arms to get good extension. Cowser is a fast runner so although his power is not fully developed, he can pick up extra bases through his speed.
In the field, Cowser is good at fielding fly balls and has a tremendous arm. He is a center fielder now, but will likely make the move to the right field in the majors since his blend of arm strength and ability to read fly balls will work well there. He could be an above-average corner outfielder but his instincts and jump on the ball won’t work as well in centerfield.
Weaknesses
As a hitter, Cowser could improve his power. Since he plays in the Southland Conference, the pitches he faces are not nearly as challenging as the majors. His swing is contact-oriented and will be able to hit a decent amount of home runs in the majors, but it is unlikely he has a 30+ home run season.
Cowser makes many fast throws from the outfield, but sometimes his accuracy can be inconsistent. To thrive in the field, he will need to improve his accuracy, but this is an area that he will be able to improve on in the majors.
Pro Comparison: Christian Yelich
Yelich is a comparison that makes sense for Cowser. Although Yelich is a more powerful hitter than him, both bat lefty and their traits in the field are similar. Both players are tall and possess strong arms. Cowser won’t likely last in centerfield and could become a solid hitter and develop his power later just like Yelich.
Draft Projection: Round 1, Pick 12, Seattle Mariners
Since Cowser has improved his hitting this season, it is likely he will be a top-15 pick this year and become the highest-drafted player from Sam Houston State ever. The Mariners already have a couple of highly-ranked outfielders in their farm system, but adding Cowser would be a good addition to their prospect list.
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Main Image Credit: https://www.lookoutlanding.com/2020/12/23/22180081/2021-mlb-draft-prospect-colton-cowser-mariners-jarred-kelenic-pure-hitters-and-shoulder-chips
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