Jonathan Bowlan grew up in Bartlett, Tennessee and attended Bartlett High School, where he stood out athletically and earned recognition as one of his school’s top athletes. After high school he went on to pitch at the University of Memphis, where he became known for his big frame – 6’6″, 240 pounds – and strike-throwing ability. As a junior in 2018 he logged a 3.71 ERA with 104 strikeouts in 85 innings and even set a school and Division I single-game record with 18 strikeouts in one outing against South Florida. While his win-loss record didn’t jump off the page, the underlying performance — strong control and the ability to miss bats — made him a strong MLB prospect.
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Bowlan’s college performance landed him in the 2018 MLB Draft, where the Kansas City Royals selected him in the second round, 58th overall, and he signed for $697,500. This high pick reflected the Royals’ belief that his combination of size and control would translate well to pro ball.
Minor League Journey and Development
Bowlan’s early pro seasons were up and down as he adjusted to professional hitters. In 2019, he pitched across levels from Single-A to High-A and impressed with 150 strikeouts in 146 innings while throwing a no-hitter with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. The 2020 minor-league season was canceled due to COVID-19, which put development on pause for many prospects including Bowlan. In 2021 he struggled briefly before undergoing Tommy John surgery in May, which sidelined him for the rest of that season and much of 2022.
When he returned in 2022, Bowlan worked his way through lower levels and back into Double-A, and by 2023 he was pitching a full slate of games between Double-A and Triple-A. Across those levels he showed durability and mixed results but struck out over 100 batters, keeping him on the Royals’ radar for a big-league call that September.
Major League Debut and MLB Performance
Bowlan made his MLB debut with the Royals on September 27, 2023. He appeared in just a couple of games that season, showing flashes of his potential. In 2024 he spent most of his time moving between Triple-A Omaha and Kansas City, making a lone big league start and continuing to adjust as a pitcher transitioning toward a bullpen role. In 2025 he saw his most consistent major-league action, pitching in relief in over 33 games with a 3.86 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. Over his MLB career through 2025 he has a cumulative ERA of 4.32 with 9.4 K/9 and a 3.6 BB/9.
Pitching Arsenal and Style
Bowlan’s pitch mix is a five-pitch blend that he’s used both as a starter in the minors and more recently as a reliever in the majors. According to Statcast data:
- Four-Seam Fastball – Bowlan’s most frequent offering, which he throws 33.4-percent of the time, averages 95.5 mph and occasionally ventures into the upper-90s. Bowlan uses it as his top swing-and-miss pitch with a whiff percentage of 43.5.
- Slider – Bowlan uses the slider 31.2-percent of the time with an average velocity of 85.8 mph. This is the pitch that Bowlan relies on to put away hitters.
- Sinker – With an average velocity of 96.1, the sinker is the hardest pitch he throws and he threw it 17.3-percent of the time in 2025. Opponents hit just .176 against the sinker with an average exit velocity of 74.6 mph.
- Curve – Bowlan uses the curve just under 10-percent of the time with good velocity separation from his other pitches at 81 mph. Opponents hit just .154 against the pitch last season.
- Changeup – Bowlan pulls this one out just 8.4-percent of the time and it’s really just a show-me type pitch with opponents pounding it at a .412 clip. Working out of the bullpen, Bowlan would be able to drop the change and not suffer.
The numbers show he uses his fastball around one-third of the time and his slider a similar amount, with the other pitches sprinkled in to keep hitters off balance. As a reliever his fastball and slider combination plays especially well in shorter stints because it allows him to attack hitters and rack up strikeouts.
Strengths and Sabermetric Notes
One of Bowlan’s strengths is his control. Throughout his minor-league career and into the majors, he has shown better walk rates than a lot of pitchers with comparable velocity, suggesting he can locate his pitches well. His ability to generate groundballs and strikeouts with that four-seam fastball and slider combo is another asset. Statcast metrics indicate he gets a respectable amount of whiffs and keeps opponents’ expected on-base and slugging values relatively modest when he’s on.
Advanced metrics show that in 2025 his strike percentage and strikeout rate were higher than average for relievers, although the sample size is still modest compared to established big-league arms. That suggests he has the potential to be a reliable bullpen piece if he continues developing.
Injury History and Its Impact
The most significant injury in Bowlan’s career is Tommy John surgery in 2021. That procedure cost him nearly two full seasons and slowed his progress toward the majors. Coming back from TJS often requires adjustments in mechanics and pitch usage, and it’s common for pitchers to shift toward shorter outings or bullpen roles afterward. Bowlan’s move into relief work in 2024 and 2025 is consistent with that trend, as the Royals and subsequently the Phillies see his fastball-slider combo as more effective in one- or two-inning bursts rather than extended starts.
Overall Profile
Bowlan isn’t a flashy star pitcher yet, but he has carved out value through size, control, and a balanced mix of pitches. His development was hampered by injury, but his resilience and his ability to move into a bullpen role have kept him in big-league plans. Sabermetrically, his control and strikeout rates as a reliever are encouraging, and his pitch mix is versatile enough that with continued refinement he fits well as a reliable middle reliever or in a best case scenario, a setup arm. Throughout his career, Bowlan has shown a good mix of tools and tenacity, and now with a fresh start in a new organization, he’ll be looking to build on what he’s shown so far.
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