Baltimore Orioles outfielder Kyle Stowers was removed from the Grapefruit League lineup on Saturday due to a right hamstring injury, prompting the need for imaging to assess its extent. This injury arises at a pivotal moment as Stowers competes for a place on Baltimore’s Opening Day roster.
Manager Craig Albernaz described the move as a precaution, signaling the importance of caution while awaiting further evaluation.
With where we are in camp, there’s no need to push it,
Albernaz said.
We’ll have more information either later today or tomorrow.
At 28 years old, Stowers stated he was unsure when the hamstring tightness first started, reporting it developed gradually through his spring training routines.
He just felt a little bit of tightness,
Albernaz commented, commending Stowers for promptly reporting the discomfort.
Competitive Battles Among Orioles’ Outfielders Escalate
Before the injury, Stowers participated in three games during spring training, recording nine plate appearances. His hamstring setback adds uncertainty to the Orioles’ outfield depth as decisions about the roster edge closer.
Baltimore is likely to carry five outfielders with Colton Cowser, Tyler O’Neill, Taylor Ward, and Dylan Beavers expected to secure four of those spots. Stowers was contending with Leody Taveras and Heston Kjerstad for the final role.
Spring training injuries, such as Stowers’, play a significant role in shaping roster outcomes so close to Opening Day. The Orioles also face other injury challenges with Jackson Holliday sidelined due to a broken hamate bone and Jordan Westburg out with a partial UCL tear, adding pressure on roster flexibility.
Previous Injuries Heighten Concerns About Stowers’ Availability
The timing of this hamstring injury is especially problematic for Stowers, coming off a breakthrough 2025 season where he posted a .288/.368/.544 line with 25 home runs and 73 RBIs in 117 games, even earning a National League Gold Glove finalist nod in left field.
His 2025 season was cut short in August after a left oblique strain. While on a rehabilitation assignment, he experienced a setback with his right oblique and was unable to return for the remainder of the year. These recurring soft-tissue injuries raise questions over his durability in 2026.
Manager Albernaz remains cautiously optimistic about Stowers’ potential to reclaim form.
There’s still plenty of time and ways to get plate appearances before the season gets going,
he stated, signaling that opportunities remain for Stowers to prove his readiness.
Baltimore will await the results from the medical imaging before deciding on Stowers’ immediate future, which could see him starting the season at Triple-A Norfolk if he is not fully prepared to contribute at the major league level.
