The Minnesota Twins made waves on Monday night by trading their longest-tenured player, Jorge Polanco, to the Seattle Mariners. As part of this significant move, they acquired pitching prospect Darren Bowen, adding depth to their farm system. Bowen, a 23-year-old right-handed pitcher, was drafted by the Mariners in the 13th round of the 2022 Draft from UNC Pembroke, showcasing the Twins’ knack for finding talent in collegiate pitchers from smaller schools.
Standing at an impressive 6’3″ and weighing 180 lbs., Bowen is lauded for his athleticism, a quality that caught the attention of both the Mariners and the Twins. His primary weapon is an above-average fastball, ranging from 92 to 95 mph. The Twins, known for their success in increasing pitch velocity, likely see potential in maximizing the fastball’s speed, aiming for the higher end of that range. Notably, the Mariners regarded Bowen as the best athlete in their system, backed by data and testing from their performance department.
Bowen’s fastball is characterized by up to 19 inches of induced vertical break, nearing elite levels of vertical movement. To enhance his performance, the Twins might focus on improving his fastball command, recognizing its effectiveness at the top of the strike zone. The pitcher’s main breaking ball is an 80-84 mph slider, already graded as above-average, with potential adjustments to turn it into a sweeping slider, complementing his fastball’s characteristics.
In addition to his fastball-slider combination, Bowen possesses a changeup, currently considered a work-in-progress. With a speed ranging from 84 to 87 mph, the changeup shows promise but requires refinement in both control and command. The Twins are contemplating introducing a sinker to Bowen’s repertoire, acknowledging the pitch’s positive run value across the league in recent seasons.
Seattle may have really stolen a guy in the 2022 Draft.
13th Rd pick Darren Bowen out of UNC-Pembroke looks the part. Just 6'2" 170lb. Up to 98. FF sits 94-97, avg. 19" IVB. Promising 2-seam. Low-80s sweeper. Nascent CH. Loose. Athletic. Longer AA. Needs to add weight to start. pic.twitter.com/zPL1hMrLJC
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) June 20, 2023
Examining Bowen’s debut season in the minor leagues, he appeared in 19 games, making 15 starts for the Mariners at Low-A Modesto, accumulating 55 2/3 innings. Impressively, he recorded a 3.88 ERA, a 3.08 FIP, struck out 59 batters, walked 25, and allowed only two home runs. Hitters struggled to make consistent hard contact against him, indicating his potential with further control refinement.
Despite being initially labeled as a ‘throw-in’ to the Polanco trade, Bowen’s inclusion was a calculated move by the Twins. He is expected to feature prominently in the Twins’ prospect rankings, likely falling between the 20th and 30th positions. While there is some reliever risk associated with Bowen, the team sees potential for him to become a starter, particularly if he successfully develops a third pitch. With his impressive arm talent and strong professional debut, Bowen stands as a promising prospect, poised to make waves in the baseball industry.
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