CLEARWATER, Fla. — Jonathan Bowlan, now a rising talent in the Philadelphia Phillies bullpen, carries forward a remarkable family legacy rooted in flawless pitching. His father, Mark Bowlan, threw a perfect game in 1987 as a right-hander for the University of Memphis. That achievement remains a school first and one of only 21 perfect nine-inning games in Division I NCAA baseball since 1957.
Jonathan, 29, grew up just 25 minutes from his father’s alma mater and was deeply connected to Memphis baseball. The pride and history of that perfect game have influenced his own pursuit for excellence as a professional pitcher.
Memphis Roots Shape Early Ambitions
Being a lifelong Memphis Tigers fan was more than just a pastime for Bowlan—it was a family tradition.
“We just grew up a Memphis Tiger fan… family. We bled blue,”
he said. The opportunity to play for Memphis was especially meaningful, allowing his family to watch and support his journey up close.
In 2018, Bowlan carved out his own place in Memphis lore with an 18-strikeout game against 20th-ranked South Florida, setting a school record for single-game punchouts, all strikes that caught batters looking or swinging and missing.
“I didn’t even know I had that many until after the game,”
Bowlan recalled.
“I remember, we were pretty deep into it. They were like, ‘Hey, you still good going into the ninth?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m good. Let’s do it.’”
Joining the Philadelphia Phillies Bullpen
Bowlan’s blazing pitch arsenal earned him a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies last December, coming from Kansas City in exchange for left-hander Matt Strahm. The Phillies were drawn to Bowlan’s remarkable ability to generate swings and misses, a skill dating back to his days at Memphis.
In 2025, Bowlan led all pitchers with at least 200 four-seam fastballs by recording the highest swing-and-miss rate on the pitch at 43.5 percent. He attributes this success to his improved ability to command the strike zone with a mix of pitch speeds.
“I think it’s been the fact that I’m able to fill up the zone more with my offspeed,”
Bowlan said.
“Throwing all speeds… it helps set up the four-seam.”
His sinker, though underused last season, boasts a low opponents’ hard-hit rate, allowing it to serve as a reliable “quick out” pitch. Meanwhile, his slider ties his five-pitch repertoire together, especially effective against right-handed batters with a 40.2 percent whiff rate last spring, making it his go-to putaway pitch.
Adapting to the Demands of the Bullpen
Despite being two years into a relief role, Bowlan has developed a clear understanding of what it takes to thrive in the bullpen.
“It’s just going after everybody, competing, no matter what,”
he said.
“It doesn’t matter exactly where you throw the ball, as long as you’re giving it a chance to go over the plate. You’re there for a reason… top competitors go out there and they don’t care who you are or where you came from. It’s one on one, basically.”
Bowlan’s path wasn’t straightforward. The cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to COVID-19 was followed by a torn UCL after four strong starts in 2021. His comeback attempts in 2022 and 2023 as a starter faced challenges, posting ERAs above 5.90.
Referring to that difficult period, Bowlan acknowledged, “It was a lot mentally,” adding,
“But it was a blessing at the end of the day because it helped me grow my mindset and my faith. If I can handle that, I feel like I can handle anything that comes my way.”
Learning and Growth in Triple-A Omaha
A mid-2024 transition to the bullpen with Triple-A Omaha proved pivotal, though it came with a steep learning curve.
“When I first went up, it was kind of just like, I don’t know what to do,”
Bowlan admitted.
He made efforts to observe and seek advice, saying,
“I would just kind of watch them and always ask questions. I was talking to a bunch of guys in the bullpen — like, how do you prepare for this?”
Leaning on guidance from former Phillies All-Star reliever Carlos Estévez, another 6-foot-6 pitcher, Bowlan found stability. In the major leagues last season, he recorded a 3.86 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 34 appearances, complemented by a 2.25 ERA over 36 innings at Omaha.
Adjusting to Philadelphia’s Spotlight
Moving from a smaller market in Kansas City to a passionate baseball city like Philadelphia has been an adjustment.
“I played in Philly last year,”
Bowlan said.
“It’s a lot. There’s a lot of people, but that just shows how much they care. I don’t really know what it’s gonna be like, but I’m definitely looking forward to it.”
Bowlan is currently competing for one of the final spots in the Phillies’ bullpen. With no minor league options remaining, he is aware of the strength of the pitching staff around him.
“We have great arms, great pitchers,”
he noted.
“I’m looking forward to being around these guys and really seeing how they approach the game as well.”
Perfection’s Continuing Pursuit
Bowlan sets very high standards for himself, influenced by his family’s unique baseball history. The pursuit of perfection remains a personal theme; in 2019, his near-perfect professional performance was halted by a single error while throwing a no-hitter.
“Dang, it was so close,” he said candidly.
Despite his father’s humility, the legacy of that perfect game lives on in their family. Bowlan laughed,
“My dad’s still got me. He’s got the perfect game.”
As Jonathan Bowlan settles more firmly into his role with the Phillies, his ongoing quest for perfection drives both his personal growth and the potential of the team’s bullpen to make an impact this season.
