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MMN Top 40 Prospects: No. 13 Matt Bowman

By Teddy Klein

January 29, 2014 No comments

2014 Top 40 Prospects

 

13. Matthew Bowmanbowman-gnats-head 

Ht: 6’0”

Weight: 165

Drafted: 13th Round of the 2012 Player Draft

B/T R/R

Fastball: 55/55 Slider: 50/50 Curve: 50/50 Changeup: 50/50 Control: 55/55

Scouts who watch Matt Bowman or “Princecum” as @wexlerrules coins it, have to do a double-take. Bowman has modeled his delivery to emulate Tim Lincecum, and it’s worked out well. The former Princeton slinger has done nothing but prove that he is dominant, pitching to a 3.05 ERA between Lo-A Savannah and Hi-A St. Lucie in 127 innings and 21 starts, striking out 116 this year as a starter, after dominating as a reliever in Brooklyn, in the very promising rotation featuring Gabriel Ynoa, Luis Cessa, Rainy Lara, and others. To go along with the 3.05 era, was the fact that Bowman had no problems with lefties or righties, keeping them at a .231/.232 Left to right split with the Batting Average Against.

Matt Bowman’s control looks superb, only walking 35 players in these 127 innings. The worry though behind it is that he’s done well against A-ball ranks, but to gain a higher mark, Double-A, where he’s certainly slated, will be one of the tell-tale signs of whether or not his control is up to par.

As for Fastball velocity, reports had him touching 95 in a pre-draft workout, but he normally sits in the low 90’s, and sometimes gets as high as 94. Many reports have him with average offerings in his slider, curve, and changeup, but that’s not bad, at least he has them, and can control them well.

Prospect Outlook: Personally, I love pitchers that are slender of build, but I can understand how people can be uneasy about his size, and whether or not he holds up as a starter. He has done well so far as a starter, but between the promising future rotation of Harvey, Wheeler, Syndergaard, Montero, Niese/Mejia/Gee, Bowman’s lincecum-esque delivery, and his projection as a possible back-end starter, there isn’t much room for him to grab a spot as a starter in the Majors. I believe he’ll become a great reliever, however, possibly as a set-up man.

Projected start: Double-A Binghamton

ETA: 2015

MMN Top 40 Prospects

40. Jhoan Urena

39. Patrick Biondi

38. Chris Flexen

37. L.J. Mazzilli

36. Miller Diaz

35. Hansel Robles

34. Robert Gsellman

33. Allan Dykstra

32. Akeel Morris

31. Wuilmer Becerra

30. Ivan Wilson

29. Travis Taijeron

28. Andrew Church

27. Wilfredo Tovar

26. Jayce Boyd

25. Jack Leathersich

24. Jeff Walters

23. Domingo Tapia

22. Luis Mateo

21. Cory Mazzoni

20. Juan Centeno

19. Michael Fulmer

18. Dustin Lawley

17. Rob Whalen

16. Cory Vaughn

15. Luis Cessa

14. Rainy Lara

(Photo: Savannahnow.com)

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