Colton Cowser’s second-place finish to New York Yankees’ starter Luis Gil in the American League Rookie of the Year voting was disappointing for the Orioles’ outfielder.
It was even more disappointing for executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias.
Had Cowser followed Gunnar Henderson, who was the unanimous pick for Rookie of the Year last season, the Orioles would have been awarded a Prospect Promotion Incentive draft pick, which would have come after the first round.
The Orioles used the pick they had gotten for Henderson’s award as part of the deal to acquire Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers.
Cowser joins Adley Rutschman, who finished second in the 2022 Rookie of the Year voting to Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez as runners-up.
Gil received 15 first-place votes, 10 second-place votes and a third-place vote for 106 points. Cowser received 13 first-place votes, 11 second-place votes and three third-place votes for 101 points.
It was the closest vote since 2003.
New York Yankees’ catcher Austin Wells, who didn’t receive any first-place votes, finished a distant third.
Oakland closer Mason Miller and Cleveland reliever Cade Smith each received a vote for first and finished fourth and fifth. Boston outfielder Wilyer Abreu and Texas outfielder Wyatt Langford also received votes.
Each American League city has two votes by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. MLB.com’s Joe Trezza voted for Gil, Cowser and Miller while Baseball America’s Savannah McCann voted for Cowser, Gil and Wells.
The Orioles won’t win any major awards. Last year, Brandon Hyde easily won the American League Manager of the Year award. Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, Detroit’s A.J. Hinch and Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro are the finalists for this year’s award, which will be announced Tuesday.
Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal and Kansas City’s Seth Lugo are Cy Young Award finalists. That award will be announced Wednesday. I was a Cy Young voter this year.
On Thursday, New York’s Aaron Judge and Juan Soto and the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. will find out the results of the Most Valuable Player Award.
Awards are also important for Hall of Fame voters. Those ballots were mailed out on Monday, and voters look at the results of major awards in considering Hall of Fame candidacies.
The Orioles did win some awards this year. Cowser won the Players’ Choice Award for American League outstanding rookie. Anthony Santander won the Silver Slugger.
Henderson could be a Top 5 finisher in the MVP voting while Burnes will receive Cy Young votes.
Voters vote for five candidates in the Cy Young and 10 in the MVP.
Had Cowser won, he and Henderson would have been the first consecutive Oriole award winners since Mike Flanagan and Steve Stone won the Cy Young Award in 1979 and 1980. Stone’s Cy Young was the last time an Oriole won the award.
Henderson’s Rookie of the Year was the first time an Oriole won it since Gregg Olsen in 1989. No Oriole has won an MVP since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991.
Qualifying offer day arrives
Burnes and Santander are expected to decline the Orioles’ $21.05 qualifying offers by the Tuesday 4 p.m. deadline. The Orioles will receive a draft choice if Burnes and Santander sign with a new team.
In 2015, catcher Matt Wieters surprisingly accepted the qualifying offer of $15.8 million. After June 2014 Tommy John surgery, Wieters played in only 75 games the next year and his agent, Scott Boras, recommended he accept the offer.
Wieters played the 2016 season with the Orioles and signed for 2017 with the Washington Nationals.
Jones’ Hall of Fame consideration
Longtime Orioles centerfielder Adam Jones was one of 14 new players on the Hall of Fame ballot. There are 28 players overall.
It would be an accomplishment for Jones, who was an extraordinarily popular player as well as an all-time team leader in many offensive categories to receive 5 percent of the vote this year.
That would enable him to be considered next year as well.
J.J. Hardy was on the ballot two years ago, and did not receive any votes.
Players who have played 10 years in the majors must be recommended by a screening committee. This year, two former Orioles, Mark Trumbo and Mark Reynolds, did not qualify for the ballot.
Wieters, Chris Davis and Nick Markakis are eligible for consideration next year.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.