A’s Sign Left-Handed Reliever Ben Bowden to Minor League Deal

The Oakland Athletics have added left-hander Ben Bowden to their roster, signing him to a minor league deal, as noted on his MLB.com profile.

Bowden, 30, has an intriguing journey through baseball. Drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2016 draft, he was viewed as a promising relief prospect from his college days in the SEC. His path to the majors was delayed due to shoulder injuries that kept him sidelined for the 2017 season. 

Once back on the mound, Bowden quickly moved through the Rockies' minor league system, reaching Triple-A by the end of his second full professional season. He excelled at the Double-A level, posting a 1.05 ERA with an impressive 46.2% strikeout rate in 26 appearances. 

The cancellation of the minor league season in 2020 further delayed Bowden's rise, but he made up for lost time in 2021 by delivering 11 2/3 scoreless innings at the Triple-A level, earning his promotion to the major leagues.