Inheriting a massive rebuild project and laying out plans to navigate it and eventually come out a contender, with clear indicators of a tedious pace and an inability to doctor it and improve the appearance, left Mike Elias with top-five draft picks in his first four seasons as executive vice president and general manager.

Catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Jackson Holliday were selected first overall in 2019 and 2022 respectively. Outfielder Heston Kjerstad was the second overall pick in 2020. Outfielder Colton Cowser, promoted to the majors on Wednesday, was the fifth selection in 2021.

Finishing above .500 last summer, an industry shocker, left the Orioles 17^th in Sunday’s first round. The price paid for improvement.

No one is complaining. Falling back is progress.

“It’s very different,” Elias said on yesterday’s video call with the local media. “When you’re picking as low as we are, 17, there’s just so much uncertainty about who’s going to be there.”

NEW YORK – The crowd at Yankee Stadium had lost its last ounce of patience long before the 12^th batter stepped to the plate in the top of the third inning. Angry at Luis Severino. Outraged by the sloppy play. Reduced to cheering a ground ball, sarcasm the only weapon of retaliation.

The Orioles threw an offensive party tonight in someone else’s house. Gunnar Henderson played host.

Henderson collected four hits in four innings, including a pair of home runs. Ryan O’Hearn had a double and two-run single in the third. Twenty of the first 30 batters reached base.

Manager Brandon Hyde wanted a breather. He got a laugher.

Staggering after two games of the series, the Orioles came out swinging tonight and coasted to a 14-1 victory. They pounded out 20 hits. Kyle Bradish was working on a one-hit shutout through the fifth and no one seemed to notice.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays is participating in full baseball activities today and is confident that he’ll return to the Orioles’ lineup this weekend in Minnesota.

Hays hasn’t played since bruising his left hip Sunday against the Twins at Camden Yards.

“I’m feeling a lot better today,” he said. “I’m going to go out there for BP and try to go through some throwing from the outfield, take some swings, and see where we’re at. But as far as just moving around and doing day to day stuff, it feels a lot better. A lot of that bad soreness that I had has pushed out of there.”

The day began with Hays learning about his All-Star selection and progressed to a collision with Twins first baseman Donovan Solano in the second inning, leading to removal before the top of the fourth.

Third baseman José Miranda’s throw led Solano into the basepath and Hays turned at the last instant to lessen the impact. He probably made it worse, but his instincts took over.

NEW YORK – The latest prospect-packed Orioles lineup tonight includes Colton Cowser in left field again, with Gunnar Henderson leading off and playing shortstop, and Jordan Westburg at second base.

Manager Brandon Hyde put Ramón Urías at third base and Aaron Hicks in center field.

Cedric Mullins is the designated hitter.

Austin Hays stays on the bench.

Kyle Bradish has registered a 3.58 ERA and 1.205 WHIP in 15 starts. He’s held opponents to six runs in his last four starts covering 25 innings.

The short-attention reaction to news of Colton Cowser’s promotion was, “What now?”

The moment is appreciated and then outdated.

Cowser is going to be in the lineup on most nights, the same way it’s working out with infielder Jordan Westburg. Manager Brandon Hyde will call upon the flexibility on his roster. He has no other choice.

Players will sit or rotate into the designated hitter spot. No one is going to get buried on the bench.

Cowser started in left field last night, an easier decision with Austin Hays recovering from a bruised left hip. Hays’ return creates another lineup complication, but nothing that Hyde can’t handle. He’s braced for it.

NEW YORK – The towering fly ball to Colton Cowser tonight in the first inning drew a roar from the Yankee Stadium crowd but didn’t get close to the warning track in left field. Cowser camped under it and waited, a 44-degree launch angle providing time for fans to realize their mistake.

Next came the first at-bat, with one out in the second inning. Cowser fell behind 1-2, twice taking changeups for strikes, and lined a curveball 107.7 mph to shortstop Anthony Volpe.

Cowser was checking boxes in his major league debut. Getting the firsts out of the way. Happy for the chance to play and maybe step back from the spotlight in the coming days.

One swing took care of two more.

Cowser lined an RBI single into right field in the sixth inning after the Orioles put runners on the corners with one out against left-handed reliever Nick Ramirez, and he crossed the plate for the first time on Jordan Westburg’s two-run triple.

NEW YORK – Colton Cowser’s name was scratched from Triple-A Norfolk’s lineup last night in Durham about an hour before first pitch, unleashing a wave of rumors and jokes.

Was he joining the Orioles in New York?

Was he just slacking?

Teammates had some fun with it.

“They were giving me a hard time a little bit, saying I just wanted another day off,” Cowser said. “But I wasn’t really thinking about it too much.”

NEW YORK – Colton Cowser is making his major league debut tonight in left field and batting seventh.

Austin Hays remains on the Orioles bench while recovering from a bruised left hip. He hit in the cage yesterday and is nearing a return.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop. Jordan Westburg is the third baseman.

Ryan O’Hearn is in the cleanup spot again. Cedric Mullins is batting fifth, and Aaron Hicks follows as the designated hitter.

Hicks, who homered yesterday, posted a .188 average and .524 OPS in 28 games with the Yankees. He has a .264 average and .873 OPS in 28 games with the Orioles.

NEW YORK – Colton Cowser is on the Orioles’ active roster and expected to be in their lineup for tonight’s game against the Yankees.

The first part is official.

The club announced that it selected Cowser’s contract from Triple-A Norfolk. They also selected reliever Eduard Bazardo’s contract and optioned outfielder Ryan McKenna to the Tides after yesterday’s game.

Catcher Anthony Bemboom and pitcher Chris Vallimont were designated for assignment to clear space on a full 40-man roster.

Cowser, the No. 14 prospect in baseball in MLB Pipeline rankings, is batting .330/.459/.537 with 10 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 40 RBIs and 48 walks in 56 games. The fifth-overall selection in the 2021 draft out of Sam Houston State has accumulated 381 plate appearances at Triple-A over two seasons and slashed .292/.420/.500 in 83 games.

NEW YORK - Orioles reliever Yennier Cano smiled through his entire media session Sunday after being chosen to the All-Star Game.

Sitting in front of a microphone shared with interpreter Brandon Quinones, he tried to convey what the news meant to him, how a pitcher who didn’t impress last year or break camp with the team in spring training emerged as a dominant setup man and endearing personality.

Earning an honor that he never dreamed about, let alone having it latch onto his reality. As crazy for him as it seemed to everyone else.

Cano handled a curveball question better than hitters can attack his sinker.

How did he turn into Superman?

NEW YORK – Colton Cowser finally got the phone call.

The organization’s No. 2 prospect is joining the Orioles in New York, according to a source. The club is expected to select his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Space must be cleared on the 40-man roster, and the Orioles could make other moves prior to Wednesday night’s game against the Yankees.

They’re carrying three catchers, which always is a temporary arrangement. And they might want to bring up a pitcher, with only 12 on the active roster.

What’s certain is that Cowser, ranked No. 14 among baseball’s prospects by MLB Pipeline, is in position to make his major league debut.

NEW YORK – The forearm smash delivered by Aaron Hicks in front of the visiting dugout today sounded like a clap of thunder. A home run against his former team deserving of an aggressive celebration.

Adam Frazier’s two-run shot later in the inning didn’t carry the same revenge vibes, but it reset a game that was getting away from the Orioles.

They couldn’t pull it back again.

Giancarlo Stanton broke the tie with a ground ball single into shallow center field in the bottom of the fifth, a strange play that saw Gleyber Torres score from first base, and the Orioles stayed behind in an 8-4 loss to the Yankees before an announced crowd of 43,876.

Six defeats in the last seven games have lowered the Orioles’ record to 49-35 and allowed the Yankees to creep within two of second place in the division.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays hit in the cage this morning while the tarp was unrolled at Yankee Stadium, followed by an announcement that the game wouldn't start on time.

Bad forecast, but good injury news for the Orioles.

Hays is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. He’s avoided the injured list and nearing a return to the lineup.

“Trying to give him a little bit of a work day,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “The hip feels better.”

Jordan Westburg didn't have his left hand wrapped this morning and he's playing third base.

NEW YORK – The Orioles have switched from a balanced roster, going with three catchers today after reinstating James McCann from the injured list.

Left-hander Cionel Pérez is on the 15-day IL with left forearm soreness, a move backdated to yesterday.

Lefty Bruce Zimmermann has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk, eligible because he’s replacing an injured player. Reliever Chris Vallimont was optioned after making his major league debut last night and recording his first career strikeout.

Pérez has registered a 4.45 ERA and 1.780 WHIP in 33 games, averaging 4.7 walks per nine innings. His last five appearances have been scoreless.

Losing Pérez reduces the bullpen to seven relievers. The club held onto catcher Anthony Bemboom, who’s out of minor league options.

NEW YORK - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde worked the room Sunday morning, gathering his players for a pregame talk about the season’s first half and what he expected from them in the second, pointing and calling out the names of his four All-Stars, and giving out enthusiastic hugs.

The bearer of bad news in many instances – spring training cuts, minor league demotions – cherished the opportunity to spread some joy.

“Those types of moments are some of the best parts of this job, and it’s super special,” he said yesterday. “You’re surrounded with guys who have worked their whole lives to get to this point, and to have individual accolades that are incredible, and just to be able to talk to them about that, it’s just a great feeling.

“They’re so excited for this opportunity. The country’s going to be watching. They’re going to be on the red carpet. They’re going to be doing a lot of cool stuff, so I’m just excited for them.”

Hyde feels bad for one.

NEW YORK – The pitcher who spun perfection in his last start knew early that he wouldn’t do it again tonight. The pitcher with the lowest WHIP in the majors tried to keep the bases clean and hold onto the lead.

Ryan O’Hearn ended Domingo Germán’s streak of consecutive outs at 30 with a leadoff single in the second inning, and he drove in a run in the third. History could take a hike.

Tyler Wells stayed stingy until surrendering back-to-back home runs to Anthony Volpe and Kyle Higashioka with two outs in the fifth. Wells stranded two in the sixth, manager Brandon Hyde went to his bullpen and the lead was gone.

Harrison Bader hit a 415-foot, three-run homer off Danny Coulombe in the eighth to shatter a tie, and the Orioles began their final road trip before the All-Star break with a 6-3 loss to the Yankees before a sellout crowd of 46,015.

Not everyone drives to the Hamptons for the holiday.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays and Jordan Westburg worked out today with their Orioles teammates and apparently have dodged serious injuries.

Hays is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. X-rays on Westburg’s left hand came back negative, and he hit on the field this afternoon.

“Both of them feel a lot better today than they did after the game yesterday,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Still a little sore, but I think we got lucky.”

Hyde described two tough collisions – Hays with Twins first baseman Donovan Solano in the second inning and Westburg with a 101.3 mph fastball from Jhoan Duran with the bases loaded loaded in the eighth that plated the go-ahead run.

“It could have been a lot worse,” Hyde said.

NEW YORK – Austin Hays and Jordan Westburg are out of the Orioles lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Yankees.

Hays is day-to-day with a left hip contusion. Westburg was hit in the back of the left hand yesterday by a 101 mph fastball.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing third base, with Cedric Mullins lowered to sixth. Aaron Hicks is in left field and Adam Frazier is playing right.

Ramón Urías is the second baseman. Ryan O’Hearn is the cleanup hitter.

Tyler Wells has the second-lowest opponent batting average in the majors among qualifying pitchers at .185, behind the Angels’ Shohei Ohtani at .180, but he’s allowed 19 home runs to tie for third-most behind Lance Lynn’s 22 and Yusei Kikuchi’s 21.

NEW YORK – Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman has more to do at the All-Star Game than represent the American League.

He’s also trying to win the Home Run Derby.

Rutschman is participating in next Monday’s event at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, joining the Mets’ Pete Alonso, the Rays’ Randy Arozarena, the Dodgers’ Mookie Betts, the Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez.

Two more hitters are needed to complete the field.

Trey Mancini is the last Orioles player to participate in the Derby, finishing as runner-up to Alonso in 2021.

The key moments from the eighth inning of yesterday’s game could be plucked from multiple spots.

Start with the tapper near the mound that Adley Rutschman turned into his 13^th infield hit of the season, beating the throw from Twins reliever Jhoan Duran with one out. Anthony Santander saw nine pitches, including three clocked higher than 102 mph, and lined a single into center field. Aaron Hicks tied the game with a single that interrupted his 2-for-26 streak, getting the barrel on a 102.6 mph fastball.

Rookie Jordan Westburg stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and was drilled behind the left hand, the impact of a 101.3 mph heater sending the ball over the protective screen behind the home dugout. The pitch sending the Orioles to a 2-1 win at steamy Camden Yards, enabling them to avoid the sweep.

Within the chaos was a Ryan O’Hearn walk, after he came off the bench to hit for Ramón Urías and got ahead 3-0. Two curveballs and a 101.5 mph fastball missed the mark, and the Twins put him on base intentionally.

O’Hearn has struggled to reach it lately, mired in his own 2-for-26 slump before yesterday. Manager Brandon Hyde sat him against Twins right-hander Sonny Gray, a matchup that otherwise would have put O’Hearn in the cleanup spot.