The A’s have signed left-hander Ben Bowden to a minor league deal, based on the transactions tracker on Bowden’s MLB.com profile web page.
Bowden, 30, was a second-round decide by the Rockies within the 2016 draft. A pure reduction prospect courting again to his days within the SEC, the lefty missed the 2017 attributable to shoulder accidents however was a quick riser within the membership’s minor league system as soon as he bought going. He reached Triple-A by the top of his second full skilled season after dominating the Double-A stage to the tune of a 1.05 ERA with a 46.2% strikeout fee in 26 appearances. The cancelled minor league season in 2020 additional delayed Bowden’s ascent to the majors, however after posting 11 2/3 scoreless frames on the Triple-A stage in 2021 he was promoted to the large leagues.
Within the majors, sadly, Bowden struggled badly. His 23.7% strikeout fee was a far cry from the gaudy numbers he posted within the minors, and his 11.9% stroll fee left a lot to be desired. In all, Bowden posted a 6.56 ERA in 35 2/3 innings of labor for the Rockies throughout his rookie season. His 4.85 FIP indicated that he had pitched higher than his outcomes would possibly point out, however even that extra charitable determine was beneath league common. Given his 6.19 ERA away from Coors Subject, it’s additionally tough responsible Bowden’s struggles on his offense-inflating residence ballpark.
These lackluster outcomes led the Rockies to depart Bowden off their Opening Day roster in 2022. The southpaw struggled badly at Triple-A Albuquerque with an 8.22 ERA in 7 2/3 innings of labor earlier than the Rockies determined to show the lefty to waivers in hopes of outrighting him off the 40-man roster. As a substitute, Bowden discovered himself claimed off waivers by the Rays who themselves later outrighted him off of their 40-man. The lefty’s stint in Tampa went fairly nicely regardless of him not making it to the majors with the membership. In 22 innings of labor at Triple-A for the Rays, Bowden pitched to a 2.45 ERA with a 24.7% strikeout fee, although his 14.4% stroll fee left a lot to be desired. Tampa ultimately flipped Bowden to the Giants forward of the 2022 commerce deadline in a minor deal, although Bowden struggled in his return to the Pacific Coast League and elected free company when the season concluded.
Since reaching free company throughout the 2022-23 offseason, Bowden has pitched for the Phillies and Braves for stints at Triple-A with out cracking the large league roster of both membership. He’s posted a 30.4% strikeout fee in 81 1/3 innings of labor throughout the final two seasons however posted an ERA north of 4.00 in each seasons. Now, he’ll hope to make it again to the large leagues with an Athletics membership that has a a lot much less crowded bullpen than both the 2023 Phillies or the 2024 Braves, although so as to take action he’ll possible have to get previous his long-standing struggles performing within the PCL’s inflated offensive surroundings.
