2/14/21

Scouting Report - Mack's Mock Pick 1.11 - OF - Colton Cowser

 



Colton Cowser


Mack's spin - 

This is a serious bat.

I may be low here if a team is concentrating on adding a power bat to their organization.

The only knock on him is the fact that he put up all these excellent numbers against level 2 pitching in smaller team programs.

 

OF      6-3      180     Sam Houston State


 

 -4-21 - southland conference -

 

Player of the Year: Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

 

In just 70 games, Cowser has already established himself as one of the most decorated players in Sam Houston and Southland history. A .339/.436/.554 career hitter, the outfielder was named Southland hitter of the year in 2019, played the following summer for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team and went into the 2020 season as the first player in program history to be named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list. And now he has a chance to be the highest SHSU draft pick since Glenn Wilson went 18th overall in 1980 and the highest in the conference since Stephen F. Austin’s Hunter Dozier was selected eighth overall in 2013. The Bearkats have other talented hitters in the lineup, but it’s not a stretch to suggest that they will go as Cowser goes.

 

 1-26-21 - BA -

 

16. Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

 

Areas To Improve: Dominate lower level college pitching, prove CF defense, show impact

 

Like Ethan Wilson, Cowser will have the skepticism that comes with being a small college bat. Because of that he’ll need to dominate the college pitching in the Southland Conference and put up a line more like his freshman season (.361/.450/.602) than his 14-game stint in 2020 (.255/.379/.364). Some evaluators are skeptical that Cowser can stick in center field, so proving he can stay in the middle would alleviate pressure on his hit/power combination. If he can’t do that, showing more over-the-fence pop would give teams more confidence he can profile at the next level. Doing both of those things would be gravy.

 

 1-20-21 - D1 Baseball's top 100 College Prospects -

 

14 Colton Cowser OF H Sam Houston State Southland

 

  

1-20-21 - prospect live -

#14

San Francisco Giants

Colton Cowser

OF, Sam Houston State

 

Colton Cowser is a guy who scouts haven't seen too much of just yet, though the limited film speaks to that of a pure hitter with burgeoning power. Cowser is a swing-tinkerer, constantly looking for the most comfortable position to hit. A lightly recruited prep, he draws high marks for his humility and curiosity in terms of discovering what he's still capable of. Cowser is probably a corner outfield profile at the next level with above average speed. The bat could end up having two 55 grades on it as well as he continues to find his profile at the plate. Cowser has a great, long, projectable body that packs on good muscle. The Giants are big on culture and selecting players that will not only contribute on the field, but in the clubhouse and dugout as well. That's Cowser to a T.

 

 

1-14-21  -  Baseball America

 

Colton Cowser

 

Sam Houston State OF

 

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 195 | B-T: L-R

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted

Age At Draft: 21.3

 

Cowser had a breakout season as a freshman at Sam Houston State in 2019, where he hit .361/.450/.602 with seven home runs and nine stolen bases. Cowser made the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team for his efforts and ranked as the No. 16 prospect on the club as one of the youngest members. Teams might feel more confident with Cowser than many other hitters because of his track record with the bat in college and Team USA, and he brings a nice hitting and power combination from the left side while playing center field. There are some who wonder if he’s a real center fielder at the next level as he fills out a tall, 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame, but he is an above-average runner with good instincts. Cowser controls the zone well and has just an 11.5 strikeout percentage over 328 plate appearances with Sam Houston State in the Southland Conference and scouts have also liked the quality of his plate appearances when he’s faced high-level arms, including 2020 first-rounder LHP Asa Lacy. With a well-rounded game that includes power, speed and an ability to hit all fields while playing a premium position, Cowser is one of the more complete bats at the top of the 2021 draft class.

 

 12-26-20  -  Baseball Prospect Journal Mock Draft 1.0 -

 

19. Toronto Blue Jays: Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

 

Cowser, a left-handed hitter, offers an intriguing combination of average and power offensively and hits the ball to all parts of the field. He also displays a notable strike zone discipline. He is an above-average runner who uses his speed on the base pads and in the outfield. Cowser has the intangibles to play center field in pro ball.

 

 12-25-20 - https://medium.com/minor-league-madhouse/2021-mlb-mock-draft-3

 

Cincinnati Reds

 

Though the Reds plan to tear everything down after making the postseason, they did manage to luck into an enviable draft position, with three picks in the top 50, pending Trevor Bauer’s contract. Thus, they could use this draft to stack up on controllable assets. They are in a good spot here to get an outfielder, and could nab small school darling Colton Cowser. Cowser has produced in his two seasons at Sam Houston State, earning a Team USA invite in his freshman season. One of the best lefthanded hitters in the class, Cowser’s one question mark is his future position. He’s a capable, if not great centerfielder, and has experience in right field as well. Cowser would profile as a 5 hitter in the Reds lineup depending on where he ends up in the field.

 

  

12-23-20 - Lookout Landing -

 

It’s unclear as to why scouts weren’t enthusiastic about Cowser, but we can hazard a few guesses. It’s hard to stand out in an area as stacked with talent as Houston; not only did Cowser face being overshadowed by his own teammates, but he also had 12th overall pick Jordan Groshans (Blue Jays) to contend with, along with Adam Kloffenstein (third round, also the Blue Jays), Simeon Woods-Richardson (second round, Mets), and Braydon Fisher (fourth round, Dodgers), all in his area—to say nothing of the hotbed of Dallas, just three hours up I-45. Texas baseball prospects have it kind of rough when it comes to standing out, truly. Cowser wasn’t on the high-level showcase circuit like Groshans; nor did he have a clear carrying tool, like the loud power of Groshans. It was simply too easy for Cowser to be overlooked.

 

 That all changed once he got to Sam Houston State. Determined to prove the doubters wrong, Cowser attacked the Southland conference with a vengeance. As a freshman he slashed .361/.450/.602, striking out just 13% of the time while walking almost as often as he struck out, and racking up 24 extra-base hits to go with his seven dingers. He parlayed his strong season into an invitation to play for Team USA, the first player from Sam Houston ever named to Team USA and the first in a decade from the Southland Conference, where he was named Hitter of the Year. With a foot in the door towards receiving some national acclaim at last, Cowser took advantage of the opportunity, earning MVP honors for the Friendship Series against Cuba and showing off his elite bat-to-ball skills to a wider audience.

 

 

 12-23-20 - MLB - College prospects that wre High School prospects -

 

Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

 

2021: No. 13 | 2018: Unranked

 

Then: Cowser went undrafted and lightly recruited out of Cypress Ranch HS (Cypress, Texas), where he played with Madden and two pitchers who went in the first two rounds of the 2019 Draft: JJ Goss and Matt Thompson. Scouts did note that he came on late in his senior season and saw some parallels to Hunter Pence as a lanky, awkward yet effective corner outfielder.

 

Now: The only Sam Houston State player ever to make the U.S. collegiate national team, Cowser could surpass Glenn Wilson (No. 18 overall in 1980) as the highest pick in school history. He's one of the best pure hitters in the college ranks, has gotten stronger and faster and has some backers who think his solid speed and instincts will allow him to stay in center field.

 


12-20-20 - Joe @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

May not be a bigger mystery in college baseball than Colton Cowser. Cowser has really seen his stock rise. A lightly-recruited prospect coming out of HS, he now has first round talent. The potential for five-tools are there. Super interesting kid.

 


12-18-20 - Future Sox Mock Draft -

 

14. San Francisco Giants: Colton Cowser, OF, Sam Houston State

 

The Giants love their college bats under Farhan Zaidi and Cowser fits the bill. He has a great left-handed stroke and shows patience at the plate with the look of a player that will know how to get on base frequently. He’s a plus hitter and should stay in center field, but has the offensive profile for a corner if necessary.

 


12-14-20 - Joe @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

Sam Houston State University OF Colton Cowser is a bit of an enigma in scouting circles. We're all still trying to figure how high the ceiling is. 6-3, 200. 55 runner. 60 raw, 50+ game. 50+ hit. Good bat speed. Can play CF. Swing tinkerer. Short to the ball. Old-school player

 

Click here for the full list of Mack's Scouting Reports.   

 

3 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

GM Mack, a similar question on Cowser - if both were coming out in this draft, would you pick Cowser or Michael Conforto? My guess is Conforto, since he seemed like a bit of a surer thing, but what say you?

Mack Ade said...

1. Conforto
2. A very close Cowser

Tom Brennan said...

I agree with that ranking, Mack.