Once a first-round pick and top-100 prospect, Dustin McGowan has already battled back from the brink once. But he won’t be launching another effort to reestablish himself in the majors — unless, perhaps, some of the kids he’ll soon be coaching can put him up to the task.
McGowan is taking over the dugout for a local high school club in the Tallahassee area, Joey Lamar of WCTV reports. The former first-round draft pick, top-100 prospect, and ten-year MLB veteran is obviously looking to participate in the game in a different capacity rather than trying one last go at the bigs.
This is hardly a surprise, given that the 38-year-old McGowan last appeared professionally in 2017. Still, it’s nice to put a bow on a career when it becomes apparent that it has come to an end.
McGowan was long seen as an intriguing talent on the mound, having ranked among the hundred best prospects in the game (by measure of Baseball America) on four occasions. While he had his moments in the majors, he was never fully able to translate the promise into consistent productivity at the game’s highest level.
It’s impossible to ignore the role that health issues had in shaping McGowan’s career. Drafted 33rd overall by the Blue Jays in 2000, he was climbing the ladder nicely before Tommy John surgery in 2004. He bounced back to regain top prospect billing, but yet more woes arose thereafter. McGowan underwent a shoulder labrum surgery in 2008, had his knee operated on in 2009, and underwent rotator cuff work in 2010. He also required another shoulder procedure in 2012.
McGowan showed quite a bit of promise in 2007, when he took the ball 27 times and turned in a 4.08 ERA with 7.6 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 over 169 2/3 innings. And he was throwing well enough in the ensuing campaign … before the ball-and-socket issues arose. McGowan never again turned in significant innings from the rotation.
Though his time in Toronto ended largely in disappointment, McGowan did have one last hurrah left in the tank. In 2016, with the Marlins, he worked to a 2.82 ERA with 8.5 K/9 against 4.4 BB/9 over 67 frames. He came back to Miami for the 2017 season but wasn’t able to replicate the success, and we haven’t heard from McGowan since.
MLBTR wishes McGowan and his new ballclub the best of luck.
Good for him, he was awesome in 2007 and even 2008 before he got hurt.
That near no hitter he had in 2007 was fun, his stuff was incredible.
McGowan actually re-signed with the Marlins in early 2018. Reported to their spring complex, but had setbacks and didn’t appear in any official games. Strange ending.
Setbacks? Like he couldn’t find a parking spot?
That had to have been the case, otherwise an injury prone pitcher getting injured really isn’t mysterious ending to a career.
get equipped with TIME STOPPER
ill never forget I believe he had a no hittter with 1 out in the 9th and blew it, he was starting to find his groove as a starter than got hurt and then hurt again.
sounds like you will forget since you instantly said “I believe”
Hahahaha sorry man , I’ll clean up grammar
Don’t apologize, we knew what you meant, that guys just being a nitpicky chirp.
Yeah I’m not too worried about it chief , I’m a law student so papers are my thing , I just found it funny I got called out on mlbtr for something I wrote at midnight after a smoke haha
He’ll be good at that
The title of the article made me thing MLB trade rumors had lost things to write about. lol. Now I see it’s a retiring thing
I grew up with Dustin, played rec ball, watched him in high school etc. Fine person, and glad to see him moving on to this!!!
McGowan could pitch, I always thought he had better stuff than Stroman. Best of luck to DM.
Stroman was in his diapers when Dustin was pitching in TO! Bad comparison
I’m guessing by your comment you didn’t realize Stroman and McGowan were teammates in 2014.
Stroman finds diapers comfortable with his personality. Looks like you’re both correct.
Lol love how a benign article about a pitcher from 15 years ago getting a job as a high school janitor has predictably devolved into toxic racist spew. This entire board is just disgusting
No one mentioned race anywhere, unless I missed it.
It’s there. It’s always there. Indubitably.
Always the same tired script, too.
Article about some white player
Some Dumbass: OH YAH WELL HERES A DISPARAGING REMARK ABOUT SOME UNRELATED BLACK PLAYER NO ONE ASKED ABOUT!!!!
Yet ANOTHER mouth breathing lummox with a sweaty upper lip: YAH , Black player has (insert jab at their work ethic, personality, “attitude”, outspokenness, etc”
Repeat ad nasuem until you have a board that rivals infowars when it comes to armies of pissant white randos with self esteem issues just circle jerking.
still don’t know where you get racism from this. there are many racist comments in the TR family of sites, but this is not one of them.
You’re the only one talking about race on this article. I know you live on this website, but it’s probably time to take a little break.
I sincerely hope that you find a good therapist. You’ve clearly got some other issues going on.
Players from the same franchise can’t be compared? I didn’t say anything about them being teammates. Toxic racist spew? You’re an idiot, Monty, it’s really that simple. Idiot – don’t bring that virtue signalling, moral high ground nonsense to a simple discussion of baseball.
This is great for those kids. My High School coaches acted like they were former major leaguers but didn’t have a clue lol.
If he had stayed healthy he’d have been a star. Had absolutely filthy stuff when he debuted.
All the best to you Dustin McGowen and your future endeavors. Injuries can and seemingly did take you out of the bigs, but you had a great run here and there. Man are those players at that HS where you’ll be coaching lucky! Have some fun with those kids!!