Orioles' Colton Cowser Accidentally Throws Milestone Craig Kimbrel Baseball Into Kauffman Stadium Fountain

Patrick Andres | Apr 20, 2024

Aug 6, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser (17). / Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth Saturday in the Baltimore Orioles' game against the Kansas City Royals, Orioles left fielder Colton Cowser tracked down a line drive from Royals catcher Salvador Pérez to end the game.

And that is where the real fun began.

Cowser casually tossed the ball from the final out over the wall in celebration—completely oblivious to the fact that it represented Baltimore pitcher Craig Kimbrel's 422nd career save, which tied the veteran closer with Billy Wagner for seventh all-time.

That is how Cowser found himself frantically—and successfully—searching Kauffman Stadium's fountain after the game.

#Orioles LF Colton Cowser accidentally threw Craig Kimbrel’s 422nd save ball at the end of the game.

Cowser went out and found it — in the fountain at Kauffman Stadium. It had sank to the bottom.

— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 21, 2024

After retrieving the keepsake, Cowser vowed to be more careful in the future.

Colton Cowser was drying it off with a towel once he got it, then put it in Craig Kimbrel’s locker for him.

Cowser joked he’s gonna make sure to hold onto every Kimbrel save ball moving forward. https://t.co/AnD3oBHMEV

— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) April 21, 2024

“Right when I threw it, I said, ‘Craig has a lot of saves, that one might have been important,'" Cowser told reporters. "I literally told (center fielder Cedric Mullins)... ‘I might have messed up.’ And it turns out I did.”

The moral of the story: if you're an outfielder, check your pitcher's Baseball-Reference page before every game.