Morning Rundown: Jase Bowen leading AFL in extra-bases, roster moves, playoff update
At the halfway point of the AFL season, Jase Bowen remains one of the leagues top hitters.
We are at the halfway point in the Arizona Fall League, and Jase Bowen continues to be one of the best hitters out west right now.
With 40 total bases, Bowen leads all hitters right now in the category, and is also in a tie when it comes to hits along with Liam Hicks.
Among those hits he has four doubles, two triples and three home runs. His 15 RBI is second to just Wes Clarke, who is playing for the Surprise Saguaros currently and part of the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
Two of the Pirates hitting prospects, Bowen and Jack Brannigan, have gotten plenty of work so far, both in the top five when it comes to at-bats.
Brannigan hasn’t had quite the fall that Bowen has, but six of his nine hits have gone for extra-base hits, and he has an OPS of over .700 despite a .188 average.
A couple of quick transactions that’s happened in the last week that I never got around to.
Chris Owings elected free agency. He played in 86 games with the Indianapolis Indians this past year, hitting 15 home runs and posting an OPS of .798.
The Pirates also released Nathan Webb. He was an intriguing pickup last offseason, as his fastball approached triple digits, but missed the entire season with an injury.
He last pitched in 2022, where he walked 24 batters in 28.2 innings between Double- and Triple-A in the Kansas City Royals organization.
Mitch Garver picked up three hits for the Texas Rangers, including a home run and double to help force a game seven in the ALCS against the Houston Astros. Jonah Heim also pitched in a home run, his second of the postseason.
Nathan Eovaldi pitched 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four batters. After striking out his first four at-bats, Adolis Garcia launched a grand slam in the ninth inning as the final nail in the coffin.
The Philadelphia Phillies will have a chance to earn their second straight trip to the World Series, at home, with Aaron Nola on the mound. He’s 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in 18.2 innings this postseason.
Jase Bowen has truly impressed in the AFL. He had an excellent year at A+ (15 doubles, 4 triples, 23 HR, 88 RBI, 24 SB) and earned a late season promotion to AA where he started well. Then the AFL where he has established himself as a defensive toolshed (CF, RF, LF, 1B), and one of the best hitters in the AFL which is loaded with a lot of top MLB prospects. His slash of 359/462/625/1.048 OPS is indicative of a RH hitter who can hit for both average and power - tied for 1st in hits with 23, tied for 9th in doubles with 4, tied for 3rd in triples with 2, tied for 4th in HR with 3, and tied for 2nd in RBI with 15. It would be an understatement to say he is seeing the ball well! Congratulations to him!
Jase Bowen reminds me of JaCoby Jones.