Though Ben Bowden was mostly a reliever at Vanderbilt, when the Rockies drafted him in the second round of the 2016 draft there was some hope that they’d develop him as a lefty starter with mid-rotation potential (similar to 2020 draftee Sam Weatherly). Unfortunately, Bowden’s been neither a mid-rotation starter prospect nor a fast-moving relief prospect due in part to a bulging disc in his back that stopped him from throwing a professional pitch in 2017 — sticking him firmly on the relief path.
Pre-season 2020 Rank: 11
High Ballot: 7
Future Value: 35+, middle relief
Contract Status: 2016 2nd Round, 40-Man Roster, three options remaining
After splitting his 2018 in a mostly successful season between Low-A Asheville and High-A Lancaster, Bowden was assigned to Double-A Hartford for the 2019 season.