Bowden Thriving in Triple-A

Back in 2005, when I was just a sophomore at Waubonsie Valley High School, everyone looked up to the stud pitcher on the varsity squad. His name was Michael Bowden, and everyone knew he was going to make it big.

Bowden hasn't disappointed.

Bowden, 22, is one of the younger pitchers in the AAA level, but he's been nothing short of dominant thus far. He has a record of 2-1, but that doesn't tell the whole story. He is leading all of Triple-A in earned run average with a 0.86 ERA. In his last outing, Bowden worked 8 innings of three-hit ball, striking out seven, but earned the no decision because the game went extra-innings.

"Michael has the ability to make it tough on people to put the barrel to the ball," Pawtucket Manager Ron Johnson said in the Providence Journal. "That’s what I saw last year, and that’s what I’m seeing this year. Plus, he competes like crazy. When he’s on the mound, I always feel like my chest sticks out a little bit further. I’m not taking anything away from the other guys, but he’s the kind of guy who stands out when he’s got the ball."

Here are his stats so far this year at Triple-A Pawtucket...

W L ERA G IP H R ER BB K AVG.
2 1 0.86 7 42 19 5 4 16 28 .136


But Bowden has also proven he can pitch at the Major League level as well.

Last season, he was called up to the Big Leagues to make a spot start against the Chicago White Sox, a prime-time Sunday night game on ESPN. Bowden worked 5 innings, allowing 2 runs but earned the victory. This year he was called up for a day to make a relief appearance in another prime time Sunday night game. This time against the hated-rival Yankees. Bowden once again did not disappoint. He threw 2 innings of no-hit ball, striking out Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano in the process.