BALTIMORE—Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser has begun taking batting practice, and he hopes his rehab from his fractured left thumb will allow him to play soon.

Cowser fractured the thumb diving into first base in Toronto on March 30^th. He’s on the 60-day injured list and isn’t eligible to return until May 30^th.

“Knew what the injury was, and the only thing that could heal it was time,” Cowser said.

Cowser has been criticized for the play and said he’ll try to learn from it.

“You can always say, ‘run through it,’” he said. “It wasn’t one of those things where I thought it was a faster situation … Throw was up the line, trying to avoid a tag, and instincts took over and tried to get around him. It was unfortunate. I know it’s a baseball play you’re not supposed to make.

“I could have dogged it out of the box and not really put an effort in, but at the time, I was just trying to get the tying run up to the plate. I’m always going to hustle. That’s kind of who I am. Looking forward, I’m definitely going to be more cautious with that and be a little smarter.”

Saturday was the first day Cowser took batting practice on the field. Playing in some games is the next step.

“That’s something that me and the training staff and strength and conditioning staff have talked about,” Cowser said. “We’re hoping to get into rehab games here soon and go from there, trying to get as many at-bats as I can and rehabbing and making sure that I’m feeling good to come back.”

O’Neill returns to injured list

The Orioles placed outfielder Tyler O’Neill on the 10-day injured list with a left shoulder injury. The move is retroactive to Friday. It’s the second time this season, and the 16th in his career, that he’s been on the IL. Outfielder Dylan Carlson has been recalled from Triple-A Norfolk.

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