Colorado Rockies: Analyzing Ben Bowden’s Futures Game performance

On Sunday night, Colorado Rockies pitching prospect Ben Bowden worked an inning in the 2019 MLB Futures Game at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Ben Bowden was the only representative for the Colorado Rockies in the game, played as a part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game festivities.

As a reminder, Bowden was a 2016 second-round draft pick of the Rockies out of Vanderbilt. He entered the season as Colorado’s 16th-highest-rated prospect according to MLBPipeline.com. Joining Bowden on the list at No. 19 is reliever Jesus Tinoco, who made his Major League debut earlier this season after pitching a scoreless inning in last year’s Futures Game.

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The 24-year-old left-hander was 20-for-20 in save opportunities with Double-A Hartford this year before receiving a call-up to Triple-A Albuquerque on June 20. In five games with the Isotopes, Bowden has surrendered three hits and two runs in five innings. In his final outing before leaving for the Futures Game, Bowden struck out the side in his one frame of action against Las Vegas on July 4.

Sensing a save opportunity on Sunday night, Bowden was brought into the game in the bottom of the seventh (the final inning of the Futures Game) with the National League ahead 2-0. He first faced Jo Adell, a highly touted prospect in the Los Angeles Angels organization. Falling behind 3-0 to Adell, Bowden battled back to 3-2 before walking him on a 94 mph fastball high.

The next batter, Jared Kelenic of the Seattle Mariners organization, flew out to left on a 3-2 pitch. However, Bowden ran into big trouble with the next batter, Sam Huff of the Texas Rangers organization. Huff took Bowden’s 1-0, 94 mph fastball deep over the left field wall to tie the game at 2-2. Huff’s homer traveled an estimated 417 feet.

Isaac Paredes of the Detroit Tigers organization followed with a double on a 2-1 pitch and Jerran Duran of the Boston Red Sox organization followed with a single on a full count. That would be the last batter that Bowden would face before he was replaced.

In all, Bowden faced five batters and recorded just one out.

Overall, Bowden missed his pitches high and fell behind every batter. Of his 25 pitches on the night, only 12 went for strikes.

There is no question it was a disappointing showing for Bowden. However, because of his pitch mix and skills he has shown the Rockies organization, don’t be surprised if Bowden is still a part of the Colorado bullpen when rosters are expanded … provided that the Rockies add him to the 40-man roster.