Orioles Add Jackson Kowar To 40-Man, Send Colin Selby To 60-Day IL

The Baltimore Orioles bolstered their bullpen depth by acquiring right-hander Jackson Kowar from the Minnesota Twins in a cash transaction, adding him to the 40-man roster. To clear the roster spot, Baltimore placed right-hander Colin Selby on the 60-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, a move that will keep Selby sidelined until at least late May.

Kowar, 29, arrives in Baltimore after a brief waiver shuffle that saw Minnesota claim him from Seattle before designating him for assignment. The official trade was logged on Feb. 14. A former 33rd overall pick in the 2018 draft, Kowar has big-league experience across four seasons and 54 games, with a 4-6 record and an 8.21 ERA in his career. He spent much of 2025 shuttling between Triple-A and the majors, making 15 appearances and logging 17 innings at the big-league level with an ERA of roughly 4.23 to 4.24 and a 1.24 WHIP. Under the surface, his 2025 sample included a 21.1 percent strikeout rate and a 9.9 percent walk rate, and his expected metrics were less flattering with a 5.15 xERA and a 5.84 FIP, suggesting inconsistent peripherals despite the middling ERA.

Baltimore’s front office is effectively buying a low-cost, high-upside bullpen arm who must earn his spot. Kowar will have to break camp with the Orioles to hold the 40-man position, and his recent pattern of optioning between Triple-A and the majors means he fits the typical profile of a depth reliever the organization can deploy in high-leverage spring training and early-season innings.

Selby’s placement on the 60-day IL carries its own roster-management story. Acquired last summer in a cash trade from Kansas City, Selby has thrown 18 big-league innings for Baltimore, including 14 in 2025, and posted a 3.21 ERA in that small sample. His 3.3 percent walk rate was an outlier compared with his career norms, while his sinker, slider and knuckle curve graded slightly above average in run value. With less than a year of major-league service time and no minor-league options remaining, Selby’s return timeline and roster status will be closely watched; when healthy, he faces pressure to reproduce his 2025 effectiveness or risk an outright assignment.

Beyond the immediate personnel swap, the move underscores the economic realities of modern bullpen construction. The Orioles opted for a cash purchase of a veteran fringe reliever rather than betting on internal cost-free options, signaling a willingness to invest modestly in controllable pitching depth. For Triple-A pitchers and local fans, Kowar’s arrival will shape spring competition and provide another veteran presence in camp. Selby’s absence clears a path for other right-handers in the organization to audition for late-inning roles.

What comes next is straightforward: Kowar must earn roster security through spring performance, and Baltimore will monitor Selby’s rehab timetable and effectiveness when he returns in late May. The swap is a small-market blueprint in action - targeted, affordable, and high on short-term upside for a club balancing depth and roster flexibility.