With all the excitement this season about Clay Buchholz, Jon Lester and Justin Masterson, it’s easy to forget that Michael Bowden is also an elite pitching prospect. The 21-year old Bowden has been on an impressive tear, and now owns a 6-3 record in 15 starts at Portland with a 2.20 ERA in 82.0 IP. He’s struck out 77 men and walked just 19 while demonstrating an increasing command of all his pitches. He’s throwing to both sides of the plate and gotten 44% grounders. His better GB rate reflects in just 3 HR surrendered this season. It should be noted that he’s benefited from an absurdly low .236 BABIP; so those numbers will adjust a little bit upward. But still.
His repertoire is not considered ace stuff, but the fact that he’s doing what he’s doing against older competition bodes very well for Bowden. I look for him to get a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket within the next month or so, and I expect to see him called up this September for a preview.
