The Orioles offense got a kickstart from Colton Cowser this afternoon.

The outfielder launched a 440-foot, three-run home run to give the Orioles a 5-3 victory over the Tigers in their first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. It improved his OPS to .982 over his last 10 games, a welcome step in the right direction for the former Rookie of the Year runner-up.

Perhaps Cowser’s heroics could jumpstart Baltimore’s lineup en route to steady improvement. More help could be on the way from Triple-A Norfolk, too. Here’s a look at a duo primed to give the O’s a boost at some point this season:

Payton Eeles

You won’t hear Cedarville University discussed among college baseball’s elite. When you hear Chicago Dogs, you probably think of the seeded bun and tomato slices as opposed to the independent league team. And when you see 5’5 as a listed height, you may not think of a Major League Baseball player.

Eeles is out to change your thinking.

From Division-II Cedarville to indy-ball, Eeles hasn’t had the easiest path to professional baseball. The undersized infielder proved he could play with the best after transferring to Coastal Carolina for his fifth year of college baseball, but still wasn’t selected in the MLB Draft. Instead, he took his talents to the Chicago Dogs, where he hit .311 in 39 games in 2023.

The Twins gave him a chance the following season, and he hasn’t looked back.

Baltimore acquired Eeles in a trade back in November, 2025, and the 26-year-old just continues to hit. Through 24 games in Triple-A Norfolk, Eeles is hitting a whopping .357 with more walks than strikeouts and a .926 OPS. He’s versatile enough to bounce around the diamond, too, with time at his primary position of second base, left field, center field and shortstop.

If Eeles makes his debut this season, he would be the shortest player in MLB. But that height hasn’t stopped greats like the 5’6 Jose Altuve. Wherever he goes, Eeles continues to prove himself. His next stop to do so could be in Camden Yards.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand 

It didn’t take long for Encarnacion-Strand to make an impression in pro ball. 

In a breakout season in 2022, the powerful righty posted a .304 batting average and .955 OPS across two levels of the minors, and impressed enough to be included in a deadline deal. As a 23-year-old in Triple-A the next season, Encarnacion-Strand posted a 1.042 OPS in 67 games, and looked to be well on his way to big league success. His 63 games in the majors that season with an .805 OPS only furthered that belief. 

But since then, it’s been a rocky road. 

A severe hand fracture in 2024 limited C.E.S. to just 37 games that season, and in 2025, the corner infielder failed to replicate his past numbers. In April, Cincinnati dealt their former top-10 prospect to Baltimore for cash. Now, Encarnacion-Strand is finding a past stride. 

Through 30 games in the organization, the former fourth-round pick has posted a .281 batting average and an OPS over .880 and seven home runs. While he hasn’t had the chance to put things back together in the big leagues, it’s a positive sign of potential things to come. 

The four position players currently on Baltimore’s injured list occupied corner infield and outfield spots, positions that Eeles and Encarnacion-Strand can slide into. With their success for the Tides this season, they could be at the top of the list as potential replacements.