Rob Bowen

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2004
  It would have been easy to write Bowen off after a dismal 2002 campaign that saw his average plummet to .185 in Class A. He never has demonstrated good strike-zone judgment, and it cost him. But the Twins remained confident in his ability because there were no major mechanical flaws in his swing. Bowen may have felt the pressure of Joe Mauer's presence, though he seemed more comfortable in 2003. He improved his pitch selection last year and made his major league debut in September. He shows solid power potential with natural loft in his lefthanded swing. Scouts have some questions about his bat speed from the right side. He's not Mauer's equal defensively, but Bowen's work behind the plate is his strength. He has a plus arm and quick release, allowing him to throw out 39 percent of basestealers in the minors last year. Extremely agile out of the crouch, Bowen could be even better than Mauer at blocking pitches. He has the tools and intangibles to profile as a big league regular. Of course, if he stays with the Twins, he'll be caddying for Mauer for years. The Twins want Bowen playing on a daily basis, so they might send him back to Double-A to start 2004 with defensive specialist Brandon Marsters ticketed for Triple-A.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #31 prospect in 2003
  Rated No. 8 on BA's Twins prospect list a year ago, Bowen suffered through a miserable offensive season in 2002. The 1999 Indiana high school player of the year may have heard the footsteps of Joe Mauer a level behind him, but the Twins aren't sure what happened to Bowen's bat. He launched 18 homers in 2001 as a 20-year-old getting his first taste of full-season ball, then he collapsed. His main deficiency is in strike-zone judgment, and while his swing is fundamentally sound it's too often sluggish. Scouts say it looks like he forgot to take the doughnut off his bat. Defensively, Bowen has a rocket arm, good hands and a quick release. He's just a shade behind Mauer defensively and could serve as his backup in the majors someday. The Twins would like to keep Bowen and Mauer at separate levels. Bowen clearly isn't ready for Double-A despite a solid showing in the Arizona Fall League, but if he's going to develop into a secondary offensive contributor and a reserve catcher in the big leagues, it is crucial for him to get 350-plus at-bats a season.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #8 prospect in 2002
  The Twins have ignored the pitfalls of drafting high school catchers in the early rounds, and they could have two potential impact players in Joe Mauer and Bowen. Some scouts compare Bowen to Ben Davis, the No. 2 overall pick in 1995, at the same stage of development. Bowen's power is developing in a hurry. After hitting four home runs in 150 at-bats over his first two pro seasons, he erupted for 18 in his first exposure to full-season ball. A switch-hitter, he has a better swing lefthanded but most of his power comes from the right side. Bowen is one of the best defensive players in the organization and has advanced receiving skills, plus the arm and quick release to deter basestealers. He still has limited exposure to professional pitching, as cracking his collarbone cost him much of 2000. He needs to tighten his strike zone and put himself in better hitter's counts. He tired down the stretch last season and homered just once in his final 131 at-bats. He'll be challenged this year in high Class A. Fort Myers' Hammond Stadium is a pitcher's park in a pitcher's league.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #7 prospect in 2001
  Bowen was Indiana's high school player of the year in 1999. He did not hit a home run in 77 at-bats in the big ballparks of the Gulf Coast League that summer, but showed increased power numbers in 2000. Managers rated him the No. 7 prospect in the Appalachian League. A switch-hitter, Bowen gets most of his power from the right side. He made progress with the bat while staying as dominant as ever on defense. He's mobile behind the plate and has a strong arm. Less than a month into the 2000 season, Bowen's offensive breakout was put on hold as a foul tip gave him a hairline fracture of his collarbone. Like so many of the youngsters on the Twins list, he'll need all the repetitions he can get at this stage of his development. Bowen and Justin Morneau were drafted in back-to-back rounds in 1999 and have been teammates for two seasons. The next probable step is Quad City, where Bowen will do most of the catching. He doesn't have Morneau's bat, but Bowen's defensive skills put him on an identical track right now.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked American League #7 prospect in 2000
  When Bowen went down with a hairline fracture of his collarbone about a month into the season, he was among the league leaders in several offensive categories. That came as a pleasant surprise for a player heralded for his defense coming into 2000. The switch-hitter is more advanced at this stage from the right side. He should hit for some power, especially righthanded, down the road. His defense lived up to its billing as well. Bowen moves well behind the plate and showed a strong arm.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  When Bowen went down with a hairline fracture of his collarbone about a month into the season, he was among the league leaders in several offensive categories. That came as a pleasant surprise for a player heralded for his defense coming into 2000. The switch-hitter is more advanced at this stage from the right side. He should hit for some power, especially righthanded, down the road. His defense lived up to its billing as well. Bowen moves well behind the plate and showed a strong arm.