The Rays have claimed left-hander Ben Bowden off waivers from the Rockies, the teams announced. Tampa Bay had an open spot on its 40-man roster so no corresponding move is needed. Bowden has been optioned to Triple-A Durham. The Rays’ 40-man roster is now full, while the Rockies’ roster is now at 39 players.
The Rockies never formally designated Bowden for assignment or announced that he’d been placed on waivers, though it’s hardly uncommon for teams to simply try to clear a roster spot in this fashion without first announcing the player’s placement on waivers.
Now 27 years old, Bowden was the No. 45 overall draft pick by the Rockies back in 2016. Praised by scouting reports for a plus changeup, Bowden has regularly missed bats at a high level in the minors (34.4% strikeout rate) but has also yielded too many free passes over the years (11.1% walk rate). Heading into the 2021 season, FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen wrote about Bowden’s inconsistent fastball velocity, noting that when he’s in the mid-90s with his heater he looks like a viable big league reliever. However, Bowden doesn’t always maintain that velocity, evidenced by the 92.6 mph he averaged on his heater in last year’s MLB debut.
That 2021 debut wasn’t a pretty one for Bowden, who posted a grisly 6.56 ERA in 35 2/3 innings. True to form, he showed the ability to miss bats (23.7% strikeout rate, 11.4% swinging-strike rate) but also issued far too many walks (11.9%) and was uncharacteristically susceptible to home runs (1.51 HR/9). Bowden had a huge showing at Double-A in 2019 and fired 11 2/3 shutout frames in Triple-A last year. This season in Triple-A, however, he’s been tagged for seven runs on six hits and six walks in just 7 2/3 innings. He’s fanned 11 of the 34 hitters he’s faced, maintaining that impressive strikeout prowess, but he’ll need to improve his command and more consistently get the best out of his heater if he’s to emerge as a legitimate big league bullpen option.
1.60 ERA with 2,500+ in spin looking real good right now
DFA next week
Come on Orioles give him a shot
Nevermind
Oh come on, why would a team like the O’s or Pirates, who both have HOF pitchers coming, bother with a guy like that. Only the poorer run franchises like the Rays (sic) would gamble like that.
The Rays are forever auditioning relief pitchers. Every once in a while they can work with someone that helps them for a year or so – then they usually move him in trade. Most guys fall out so they try others.
The O’s and Pirates are looking to develop pitchers that are younger and will be productive with them for 2-4 years.
“Every once in a while” do you even follow baseball? The rays have one of the best bullpens year after year. And also do a good job of developing pitchers they keep for 2-4 years.
LOL
I follow the Rays closely.
Perhaps you need to look at the number of relief pitchers the Rays go thorough on their ML roster each year. They are constantly bringing in guys from the minors; in trades; and from waivers to work with them. They keep the ones panning out and get rid of the ones that aren’t. They take flyers on guys like this and yes – ““Every once in a while” one will pan out.
In 2021 the Rays had 41 pitchers pitch for them. 15 of the 41 started games – and of those only 10 were considered starting pitchers – the other 5 were relievers that started games as an “opener”. So the Rays in fact went through 31 relief pitchers in 2021.
And yes, they do have great bullpens year-after-year. Because when a guy stops producing they give that spot to someone else.
he has a few decent outings and then he’s DFAed.
Geesch!! Lightning quick Rays. Probably because they’re forced to hang out at the discount bin and they have to be.
Meh. I’d rather have lost Lucas Gilbreath, but it’s not like Bowden was in the long term plans either. Right now, I think the open roster spot is better to have than Bowden, which says a lot.
Gilbreath is terrible now but he was really good over an extended period of time last season. Have to hope he isn’t hurt and can fix his current problems. He’s awful. Yet so are of his bullpen mates and starters like Marquez and Senzatela.
He’s always been potential over production and consistency. I believed in his ability at one time but he never could get to the next level. In Tampa, new coaching, maybe they will tinker with him and build him into what he could have, should have been. It was never going to work in Colorado. The Rockies were patient. Bowden never delivered.