Colorado Rockies: Bud Black on what prospect Ben Bowden brings

The Colorado Rockies have one representative playing in this year’s SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. He is also a pitcher who could play a role in Colorado’s near-term future as well.

Colorado Rockies prospect Ben Bowden was selected to be a part of the game, happening in conjunction with Major League Baseball All-Star festivities in Cleveland next week. The game will feature a National League versus American League format for the first time and will be played on July 7 at 7 p.m. (Eastern). It will be broadcast on MLB Network.

Bowden has already made the jump from Double-A to Triple-A this season and is showing signs that he could make the jump to the Rockies bullpen later this year. He allowed just eight hits in 25.2 innings while racking up 20 saves (in 20 opportunities) in 26 games with Double-A Hartford before being moved to Albuquerque on June 20.

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Ranked as Colorado’s 16th-highest prospect before the season began, the left-hander has just three appearances with the Isotopes heading into Saturday’s game.

Those Double-A numbers aren’t bad for a pitcher who had only four saves opportunities in his minor league career coming into this season. Those numbers are also a result of some skills that Colorado manager Bud Black saw Bowden display in spring training.

“I’m excited for Ben to get in this game. I hope he shows the big arm he has and has a good clean inning,” Black told reporters, including Rox Pile, before Saturday’s game at Coors Field. “What we saw in spring training is sort of what we’ve heard during the regular season. Aggressive with the fastball. Developing slider and change. Very confident in his ability to throw the fastball in spot and beat bats. Elevate when he needs to and get it down when he needs to.“He’s doing very well. His move to Triple-A will get him acclimated to Triple-A environment and Triple-A hitters. A little faster game. A little better hitter. He’s growing.”

Rockies fans will not only get a chance to watch Bowden on July 7, but they’ll also have an opportunity to perhaps get a sneak peek at a player who could factor into the Major League bullpen before the season ends.