Reinforcements are finally coming for the Orioles.

Outfielder Colton Cowser (fractured thumb) has been out since opening weekend and third baseman Jordan Westburg (hamstring strain) last suited up April 26, but both young stars are closing in on their respective returns after reporting to Triple-A Norfolk together this week for their rehabilitation assignments. Ramón Laureano (ankle sprain) is expected to rejoin the active roster soon, too, assuming the veteran outfielder has no setbacks.

With three position players to activate, the Orioles are approaching some difficult decisions regarding the players they already have in Baltimore. Injuries forced the club to do some roster churning this week and, with the dust now settled, outfielder Cedric Mullins and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle are on the injured list, and infield prospect Coby Mayo, outfielder Cooper Hummel and outfielder Jordyn Adams have joined the active roster.

Cowser appears likely to replace Adams, who hit .212 in Norfolk this season and wouldn’t fill a roster hole anymore with Cowser and Dylan Carlson capable of playing center field in Mullins’ absence. As for Westburg, his return would leave Ramón Urías without an everyday defensive home. Urías has some experience at first base, but with the Orioles (21-36) well out of playoff contention, they will have to decide if it’s time to give Mayo some runway to play in the majors.

“I definitely see him playing some first base,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said of Mayo. “You got Ramon Urías here in the building too, who’s a heck of a player and having a really good year. And I think we’re still trying to win games in the big leagues and I think we’re still trying to get back in this thing and make a run. So, I think it’s important to balance development, which is what you’re asking, and trying to win the game that night.”

Should the Orioles also activate Laureano in the next few days, they will have to remove two players from the roster between Mayo, Carlson, Hummel, Heston Kjerstad, Emmanuel Rivera and Jorge Mateo. Mayo, Carlson and Kjerstad have options, so removing two of them would allow the Orioles to maintain team control over the maximum number of players (sans Adams).

However, Carlson’s aforementioned ability to play center field, coupled with his recent success at the plate (9-for-26 with two home runs in his past nine games), makes it difficult to envision the Orioles sending him back down. Mayo, who started at designated hitter and recorded his first RBI in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the Chicago White Sox, has struggled in limited chances at third base, his primary position, with the Orioles, and Mountcastle’s hamstring injury has provided what might be Mayo’s only window to settle in at his other spot of first.

“I think any player will tell you it’s definitely more comfortable when you’re playing every day,” Mayo said when asked if it was important to him that he get an extended opportunity to show what he can do. “But obviously those things are out of your control, you kind of have to come in here and make your opportunities worth it when you get those, and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

The other infield candidates are Mateo, who leads the team with 14 stolen bases and plays all over the diamond, and Rivera, the 28-year-old journeyman who’s slowed down offensively after a strong start to his Orioles career last season.

Mateo has struggled to reach base consistently and his defense in center field has been a bit of an adventure, but the Orioles’ reliance on him as a pinch runner and utility man makes it difficult to imagine them moving on from him right now.

Rivera plays the same positions as Mayo, they both hit right-handed and his OPS stands at .592 in 21 games.

If Carlson remains on the bench and the Orioles don’t want to play down an outfielder, their other choice will likely come down to Kjerstad or Hummel.

Kjerstad has finally gotten the chance to play every day this season and struggled to take advantage, hitting .182 with four home runs and a .523 OPS. A demotion would give him a chance to reset at a level he, like Mayo, has already mastered, but also allow them to hold onto Hummel, a switch hitter who offers better defense at the corner outfield spots.

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