Cowser’s game-ending homer robbery named Capital One Premier Play of the Year

The Orioles’ Colton Cowser won the Capital One Premier Play of the Year at the MLB Awards presented by MGM Rewards after a late-season defensive play that ended a potential walk-off at Coors Field.

The moment came on Aug. 31 against the Rockies, when Baltimore protected a 2-1 lead in the ninth. Troy Johnston delivered a one-out double to put the tying run in scoring position, and after Andrew Kittredge struck out Zac Veen, Jake McCarthy hit a 1-0 pitch to deep center field with the ball carrying like a game-ending home run.

Cowser, playing center field for Baltimore, robbed McCarthy of the would-be walk-off homer. MLB’s awards coverage described the play as the “cream of the crop” among the plays the league saw in 2026, while Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said the catch was the best he has ever seen.

The catch stood out statistically and geographically, too. MLB said Statcast credited Cowser with a starting depth of 329 feet from home plate and noted that his season average for starting depth was 324 feet, adding that the outfield dimensions at Coors Field were spacious in that specific situation. MLB also referenced that the average starting distance for center fielders at Coors Field across the season was an MLB-high 338 feet.

At the awards, the Premier Play of the Year was presented by Mets great David Wright, and Cowser accepted the trophy by describing the play as “all or nothing,” keeping his focus on making the catch as the game was effectively on the line.