Ten days ago, interim manager Tony Mansolino said the Orioles would be patient with Colton Cowser as he began his minor league rehabilitation assignment.

“When Moo gets going and he’s back, he’s going to be really welcomed here,” Mansolino said.

Well, “Moo” is back, and his presence will, indeed, be welcomed by an Orioles team that’s 14 games below .500.

The Orioles on Monday evening activated Cowser off the 60-day injured list ahead of their West Coast road trip in Seattle and Sacramento. The 2024 American League Rookie of the Year runner-up will presumably make his return to the Orioles’ lineup Tuesday night in Baltimore’s series opener versus the Mariners. Cowser played six games on his rehab assignment, the final three of which with Triple-A Norfolk when he went 6-for-11 with four doubles.

To make space for Cowser on the 40- and 26-man rosters, the Orioles designated outfielder Cooper Hummel for assignment for the second time in eight days. The Orioles signed Hummel, a 30-year-old switch-hitter with great Triple-A numbers and bad MLB statistics, after he opted out of his minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He was DFA’d last Monday but re-signed Friday when Cedric Mullins was placed on the IL.Cowser fractured his left thumb while diving headfirst into first base during the Orioles’ fourth game of the season in Toronto. When he was placed on the IL, his absence was expected to be felt, but the degree to which has been immense. Cowser was perhaps the Orioles’ second-best player last season as a power hitter (24 homers) who could draw walks and play elite outfield defense as a Gold Glove candidate. Without him, the Orioles have sported one of the worst defensive outfields in MLB and lacked his loose and jovial demeanor.

Last month, Cowser said his decision to slide into first — something he knows isn’t faster but instead was an instinctual decision — is one he hopes to not make again in the future.

“I’m always going to hustle; that’s just kind of who I am,” he said. “Definitely, going forward, going to be definitely more cautious with that and be a little bit smarter.”

While there are many reasons the Orioles are 22-36 and in last place in the AL East, their injury issues make up the plurality of that pie. Baltimore now has 11 players on the IL, including four starting position players, two key backups and four starting pitchers. But that tide might be turning, and Cowser isn’t the last reinforcement on the way.

All-Star infielder Jordan Westburg has been out since late April with a strained hamstring, but he’s with Norfolk on a rehab assignment and will presumably return this week. Mullins is expected to return Sunday, the minimum amount of time, with a hamstring strain that Mansolino described as “very minor.” Platoon outfielder Ramón Laureano (sprained ankle) could also return this week, while slugger Tyler O’Neill (shoulder impingement) is expected to go out on a rehab assignment soon.

Cowser, Mullins and O’Neill made up Baltimore’s opening day outfield, while Laureano was one of the Orioles’ best hitters with a .852 OPS before his injury. Without them, the Orioles have relied more on Dylan Carlson, Jorge Mateo and Heston Kjerstad, while Ryan O’Hearn has spent more time in the corner outfield than at first base. Carlson has emerged over the past 10 days, posting a .357 average and 1.058 OPS while also coming through in the clutch. However, Mateo and Kjerstad have both struggled defensively, and Kjerstad is hitting .185 with a .539 OPS this season.

Catcher Gary Sánchez (wrist inflammation) is also expected to go out on a rehab assignment soon. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle (hamstring) is the most recent addition to the IL and his timeline is unknown. Pitchers Albert Suárez, Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and Cody Poteet are also on the IL but aren’t close to returning.

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.