Brian Bowles (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Brian Christopher Bowles (born August 18, 1976) is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
, born in Harbor City, California
. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
in the 50th round of the 1994 amateur draft
. Bowles signed on to play minor league baseball
in the Blue Jays organization. He batted and threw right-handed during his baseball
career.
. After failing to make the Major League roster in 2004, Bowles was released by the Brewers on July 8. On July 21, he signed with the Colorado Rockies
. Bowles, however, became unhappy in the Rockies system. On October 15, 2004, Bowles was again granted free agency. On March 6, 2005, Bowles was signed by Chicago White Sox
. After failing to make the roster, Bowles was released on March 30, only 24 days after he was signed. After not playing in 2005, Bowles was signed on March 4, 2006 by the Baltimore Orioles
. After the season, Bowles was granted free agency. On November 13, 2006, Bowles was signed by the San Francisco Giants
. He did not, however, play a game as Giant. After playing the season for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
, Bowles retired.Bowles now is a pitching coach and has free baseball workouts on Sundays at 9 am at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach California
At the time of his retirement Bowles had a 2-1 record, a 3.23 ERA, 17 walks, and 25 strikeouts. His lifetime fielding percentage was .800.
, an 89-90 MPH two-seam fastball
in addition to an 84-86 MPH slider
,and an 80-84 MPH forkball
. Bowles' fastballs were his best pitches.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, born in Harbor City, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
in the 50th round of the 1994 amateur draft
1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
. Bowles signed on to play minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
in the Blue Jays organization. He batted and threw right-handed during his baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
career.
Major League Baseball career
Bowles made his Major League debut for the Blue Jays at age 24. That year, he went on to record an era of 0.00 in 3.7 innings. In 2002, Bowles had an earned run average of 4.05 in 20 innings, going 2-1. In 2003, Bowles recorded a 2.57 era in 7.0 innings. On October 15, 2003, Bowles was granted free agency. Less than two months later, Bowles signed with the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. After failing to make the Major League roster in 2004, Bowles was released by the Brewers on July 8. On July 21, he signed with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. Bowles, however, became unhappy in the Rockies system. On October 15, 2004, Bowles was again granted free agency. On March 6, 2005, Bowles was signed by Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. After failing to make the roster, Bowles was released on March 30, only 24 days after he was signed. After not playing in 2005, Bowles was signed on March 4, 2006 by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. After the season, Bowles was granted free agency. On November 13, 2006, Bowles was signed by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He did not, however, play a game as Giant. After playing the season for the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, Bowles retired.Bowles now is a pitching coach and has free baseball workouts on Sundays at 9 am at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach California
At the time of his retirement Bowles had a 2-1 record, a 3.23 ERA, 17 walks, and 25 strikeouts. His lifetime fielding percentage was .800.
Pitching Style
Bowles threw a 91 MPH four-seam fastballFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
, an 89-90 MPH two-seam fastball
Two-seam fastball
A two-seam fastball is a pitch in baseball and a variant of the straight fastball. The pitch has the speed of a fastball, but the general movement of a screwball...
in addition to an 84-86 MPH slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
,and an 80-84 MPH forkball
Forkball
The forkball is a type of pitch in baseball. Related to the split-fingered fastball, the forkball is held between the first two fingers and thrown hard snapping the wrist....
. Bowles' fastballs were his best pitches.