Lynn native Ben Bowden admitted that he was nervous when Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black called him into his office Tuesday morning before practice. As he walked into the office and sat down, a hundred thoughts raced through his head. He knew he had pitched well during the spring, but he also knew that nothing is guaranteed in this business.
“You never know what’s going to happen,” said Bowden, a Lynn English graduate who was drafted by the Rockies in the second round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft after three seasons at Vanderbilt University. “So I went in there and he was telling me that they had been watching me over the past few years and all the injuries had been tough and things like that. Then he said, ‘you threw 28 pitches (Monday) and we were thinking about giving you a back-to-back, but we’re going to need you against the Dodgers on Thursday (Opening Day).’ I almost fell out of my chair when he said that.
“It’s an absolute dream come true to get to this point,” Bowden added. “You think back and say to yourself, ‘man, all of those long drives to showcases and all that work in college and all the rehab and everything that’s happened, it all led here.’ I’ve had such great experiences every step of the way, and it’s all made me into the player and person I am now.”
It’s been a great start to the year for Bowden, who has struggled with injuries over his first few years as a professional. He suffered a bulging disc in his back that kept him from throwing a pitch in 2017, then his back betrayed him again in 2020 while pitching at an alternate site during spring training. But he’s healthy now, and the stats showed it.
In 8.2 innings of work this spring, Bowden only allowed one run on four hits with 14 strikeouts for an ERA of 1.04. Bowden also went seven straight appearances this spring without allowing a run.
“It’s been a good spring, but I knew that I had to step it up after missing all of last year,” said Bowden. “I’m sick of being injured and I wanted to come out and show everyone that I’m healthy and I belong out here.”
But of course, everyone around here remembers him from his days at English. Named the Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior in 2013, Bowden had a 4-2 record with a 0.67 ERA, striking out 84 batters in 52 innings while allowing just 29 hits. In his junior season with the Bulldogs in 2012, he made waves across the region after throwing a perfect game in a win over Marblehead in his first start of the season. He ended up finishing that junior year with 82 strikeouts in 51.2 innings of work.
So naturally, when news of Bowden making the Opening Day roster hit, the city was buzzing. A flood of messages from former coaches, teammates, fans and more have been hitting Bowden’s inbox over the past couple days now, and he’s trying his hardest to respond to as many as he can.
“I can really feel the love coming from Lynn, and it means more to me than I can even explain,” said Bowden. “The reaction has been incredible and it’s been so awesome to hear from everybody. One of the things that makes me the most happy is that people are saying I’m making Lynn proud, which really means a lot to me. People are genuinely happy to see me do well, and the support means everything.”
But Bowden also understands that this isn’t the end of the road, it’s only the beginning. The real work starts now, and he is determined to prove that he belongs in the Majors for years to come.
“I’m going to be ready when they need me, no matter what inning or for how long,” said Bowden. “I feel like there’s a sense of urgency not only from me, but from our entire team. The guys are all motivated to show out this year, and we’re fired up to get started.”
