Ben Bowden Bio
Benjamin Douglas Bowden, born on October 21, 1994, is an American professional baseball pitcher. He currently plays in the Athletics organization and has previously appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. Bowden played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was selected by the Rockies in the second round of the 2016 MLB draft. He made his major league debut in 2021 after several seasons in the minor leagues.
A left-handed relief pitcher known for his strikeout ability, Bowden has spent time with multiple organizations throughout his professional career. Beyond baseball, he attended Lynn English High School, where he also played basketball alongside baseball. His professional journey has included stops with the Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and the Athletics organization.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Douglas Bowden was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, and grew up in the same community. He attended Lynn English High School, where he was a multi-sport athlete, playing both baseball and basketball for the school teams. As a senior, Bowden was recognized as the state’s high school baseball player of the year, highlighting his early talent on the mound.
His senior year honors continued when he was named the 2013 Gatorade Player of the Year in Massachusetts, one of the most prestigious awards for high school athletes in the United States. This recognition helped establish him as one of the top amateur pitching prospects in the country heading into his college career. Bowden’s upbringing in Lynn and his success at Lynn English High School laid the foundation for his future in professional baseball.
Path to Professional Baseball
After high school, Bowden enrolled at Vanderbilt University, where he played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). During his time at Vanderbilt, he developed into a reliable relief pitcher, showcasing the kind of strikeout ability that would later define his professional career. After his sophomore season in 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
With the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox, Bowden posted a 0.30 earned run average (ERA) with 43 strikeouts over 30 innings pitched, helping lead the Red Sox to the league championship. He was also named playoff co-most valuable player for his dominant summer performance. In 2016, his 10 saves ranked fourth in the SEC, and his 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fifth in the conference. Following the 2016 college season, the Colorado Rockies selected Bowden in the second round with the 45th overall pick of the 2016 MLB draft. He agreed to a $1.6 million signing bonus with the Rockies and began his professional career.
Ben Bowden Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
Bowden made his professional debut with the Asheville Tourists of the Single-A South Atlantic League after signing with the Rockies. He spent all of 2016 with Asheville, where he posted an 0–1 record with a 3.04 ERA in 26 games, averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings. Bowden did not pitch in 2017 due to injury, a setback that briefly stalled his development. He returned healthy in 2018 and split the season between Asheville and the Lancaster JetHawks of the High-A California League, recording a 7–2 record with a 3.98 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 52 innings pitched.
In 2019, Bowden opened the season with the Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Eastern League, serving as the team’s closer before earning a promotion to the Albuquerque Isotopes of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on June 20. Over 48 relief appearances between the two teams, he pitched to a 1–3 record with a 3.48 ERA, averaging an outstanding 14.7 strikeouts per nine innings. His 20 saves with Hartford ranked fifth in the league, his 0.584 WHIP ranked fourth, and his 6.0 strikeouts-per-walk ratio ranked fifth. Bowden was also named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game, and the Rockies added him to their 40-man roster after the season.
Colorado Rockies Era (2021–2022)
Bowden made the Rockies’ 2021 Opening Day roster, marking the culmination of his climb through the minor leagues. On April 2, 2021, he made his MLB debut in relief against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing two runs in 1+1⁄3 innings pitched while recording two strikeouts. In 39 games that season, he posted a 3–2 record with a 6.56 ERA in 35+2⁄3 innings of work, gaining valuable experience at the major league level. During spring training in 2022, the Rockies optioned Bowden back to Albuquerque, signaling a shift in his role with the organization.
On April 29, 2022, Bowden was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Rays, beginning a period of frequent team changes. In eight games for the Triple-A Durham Bulls, he posted a 1.80 ERA with a 3–0 record in 10 innings. He was designated for assignment on May 31, cleared waivers, and was sent outright to Triple-A Durham on June 4. On July 24, 2022, Bowden was traded by the Rays to the San Francisco Giants. In 22 games for the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats, he struggled to a 7.07 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 28 innings of work, and he elected free agency following the season on November 10.
Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves (2023–2024)
On January 24, 2023, Bowden signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization, looking to reset his career. In 49 games out of the bullpen for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, he registered a 6–2 record and 4.64 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 5 saves across 52+1⁄3 innings of work. Despite his productive Triple-A numbers, he did not receive a call-up to the majors, and he elected free agency following the season on November 6. Bowden then signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on November 24, 2023.
In 27 games for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in the Braves system, Bowden compiled a 4.03 ERA with 35 strikeouts across 29 innings pitched. His time with Atlanta ended when the Braves released him from the organization on July 14, 2024, after which he once again entered free agency.
Athletics Era (2024–Present)
On December 9, 2024, Bowden signed a minor league contract with the Athletics, beginning a new chapter in his career. In 31 appearances for the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators, he logged a 1–1 record and 1.36 ERA with 41 strikeouts and two saves across 39+2⁄3 innings pitched, reestablishing himself as a reliable relief pitcher. On July 23, 2025, the Athletics selected Bowden’s contract, adding him to their active MLB roster. In 11 appearances for the team, he recorded a 4.22 ERA with seven strikeouts across 10+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On August 22, 2025, Bowden was placed on the injured list due to a lat strain, and he was later transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 1, officially ending his 2025 season. On November 5, 2025, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Las Vegas, but he rejected the assignment and elected free agency. On November 11, 2025, Bowden re-signed with the Athletics on a minor league contract for the 2026 season, continuing his long professional journey.
Ben Bowden Personal Life
Information about Ben Bowden’s personal life, including details about his family members, marital status, and residence, has not been publicly confirmed in available sources. Bowden was born and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he attended Lynn English High School. Beyond his baseball career, he also played basketball during his high school years. Specific details about his parents, spouse, or children are not publicly documented in verified sources.
Ben Bowden Career Statistics
Through the 2025 season, Bowden’s verified MLB statistics include a 3–2 win-loss record, a 6.02 earned run average (ERA), and 49 strikeouts. His major league experience has been limited primarily to relief appearances, with most of his career innings logged at the Triple-A level. The Athletics selected his contract in July 2025, giving him another opportunity to contribute at the highest level of professional baseball.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a significant chapter in Bowden’s career, beginning with a strong Triple-A campaign for the Las Vegas Aviators. In 31 appearances, he posted a 1.36 ERA with 41 strikeouts across 39+2⁄3 innings, earning a call-up to the Athletics’ major league roster on July 23. His MLB appearances with the Athletics were limited to 11 games, during which he recorded a 4.22 ERA with seven strikeouts across 10+2⁄3 innings pitched before a lat strain ended his season in late August.
Bowden’s 2025 season was cut short when he was placed on the injured list on August 22 due to a lat strain and later transferred to the 60-day injured list on September 1. Despite the abbreviated MLB stint, his overall performance in the Athletics organization demonstrated his continued value as a strikeout-oriented relief pitcher. Looking ahead, Bowden re-signed with the Athletics on a minor league contract for the 2026 season on November 11, 2025, signaling his intent to continue pursuing his major league career.