More on Cowser promotion, Bazardo's arrival, Cano's All-Star selection and O'Hearn's clutch hitting

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The moment is appreciated and then outdated.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.

Aaron Hicks was the designated hitter last night, with Anthony Santander in right field. Santander and Ramón Urías have gained Hyde’s trust at first base. Cowser can play all three outfield positions.

“Not easy right now,” Hyde said.

“It’s a great problem to have when you have 13 guys you want to play. It’s mainly a night-to-night … Like last night, I was going over it a million times, who to play, and it’s going to be like that right now going forward.”

A player must be removed when Ryan Mountcastle is reinstated from the injured list, but his assignment runs through the first half. The Orioles don’t need to figure out his situation until after the All-Star Game.

Ryan O’Hearn has an option, but he’s a left-handed bat and capable of moving to the outfield corners.

Ryan McKenna is one of Hyde’s favorites for the energy he brings to the dugout and clubhouse, his speed and his defense. For always being ready to enter a game late. But Hicks’ resurgence and ability to hit from both sides of the plate worked against McKenna as much as Cowser’s promotion.

Hicks would have been an easy subtraction if his struggles in New York carried over to his new team.

Heston Kjerstad led off last night for Norfolk, singled three times and homered by the sixth inning. He’s hitting .322 with a 1.022 OPS.

What now?

The watches for Cowser and Jordan Westburg are over, and now the attention and impatience shifts to Kjerstad. Pass the promotion baton. Every absence from Norfolk’s lineup causing a huge uproar.

* Cowser is the first Oriole to wearing No. 17 since starter Alex Cobb in 2020. Because, the more you know.

Before Cobb was infielder Rubén Tejada, reliever Brian Matusz, Aubrey Huff, Corey Patterson, B.J. Surhoff, Geronimo Gil, Mike Kinkade, Kevin Bass, Chris Sabo, and others.

* Reliever Eduard Bazardo also had his contract selected yesterday and it didn’t cause the same fuss. In fact, the nameplate above his locker spelled his first name “Eduardo.”

Bazardo was back in the majors after appearing in 12 games with the Red Sox last year.

“I feel really good about it,” he said via interpreter Charles Escalante. “It’s something that, everyone wants to be back, so I’m really happy that I get another chance to show what I can do.”

Bazardo was 4-1 with a 3.51 ERA, 1.170 WHIP, two saves and one home run surrendered in 24 appearances with Norfolk, and he’s averaged 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

“I’m very happy with what was going on,” he said. “The month of June treated me really well, things went really well in my outings, and now I’m really happy to be here and continue it.”

* Yennier Cano has referenced his age as a reason why he didn’t think he’d make an All-Star team, but the 29-year-old reliever seems like a youngster compared to other first-timers with the Orioles.

Outfielder Gene Woodling is the oldest Orioles player chosen to his first All-Star team at age 36 in 1959.

Shortstop Mike Bordick was 34 in 2000 before general manager Syd Thrift traded him to the Mets. Surhoff (1999) and Don Buford (1971) also were 34.

Outfielder Al Bumbry (1980) and reliever Tippy Martinez (1983) were 33. Pitchers Steve Stone (1980) and Darren O’Day (2015), infielder Ty Wigginton (2010) and shortstop Mark Belanger (1976) were 32. Relievers Don Aase (1986) and George Sherrill (2008) and outfielder Melvin Mora (2003) were 31. Starter Pat Dobson (1972), reliever Brad Brach (2016) and outfielder Ken Singleton (1977) were 30.

This is where Cano appears, but he also has company.

Relievers B.J. Ryan (2005) and Jorge López (2022) also were 29. Cano is the youngest of the trio based on days.

Cano surrendered his first home run last night since July 27, 2022, in Milwaukee while pitching for the Twins.

* Before last night, Yankees pitchers were averaging 94.74 mph on their fastballs this season, the second-highest velocity in the league behind the Marlins’ 94.92, per STATS.

Meanwhile, Oriole hitters had registered a .271 average against fastballs clocked at 95 mph-plus, the third highest in the majors.

* O’Hearn is batting .370/.438/.630 (10-for-27) with a double, two home runs, 17 RBIs and four walks with runners in scoring position.

O’Hearn stole his first career base last night.