Karson
Bowen

USA CNT: Reminds me of former Texas Longhorn Cameron Rupp with his extra wide shoulders and a fire hydrant for a body. Bowen showed elite blocking skills, softening and redirecting to plate time after time. It’s almost impossible to get a pitch past his wide body. His plus arm plays there with a quick transfer and release from a three-quarter throwing slot. In addition to his top notch defensive tools, Bowen can be a tough out in the batter’s box. The right handed hitter struggled during the trials (1-for-14), but batted .350 with 15 doubles and six home runs for the Horned Frogs this past spring. Physically mature at 5-foot-11, 220 pounds, Bowen is a top three round follow for 2025 and the development of his bat will determine how high he is picked.

Body: 5-11, 195-pounds. Wide shoulders, great strength added, and powerfully built. Projects well to next level and beyond in current strength
Hit: RHH. Narrow with hands tight having lower squatted start on forward move; really engages lower half and ability to get hips to start/stop the swing quickly.  Easy rotation with hands finishing upwards through contact; reciprocal actions between lower/upper halves. Easy lift in the barrel path working both gaps and having ball carry. 88.26 Avg Exit Velo, 87.6% Line Drive/Fly Ball %, 76.4 Max Bat Speed, 15.3 gs Max Rotational Acceleration, 22.3 Max Handspeed, 66% On Plane %
Power: 98.30 mph exit velocity.
Arm: RH. C - 82.00 mph. Explosive release and easy arm strength that has ball jump out.
Defense: 1.91-1.99 pop times. Quick exchanges gets the ball to the bag consistently. Very good receiving skills handling some of the top velocity with ease. Utilized his body well to absorb balls on blocks.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60.

PBR CA STATE GAMES - Large, strong frame with current strength and athletic ability. One of the top 2022 players in the entire state and possibly country showing two-way skills now with great projection for next level. Went three innings striking out 7 giving up two hits and two walks and showing front line stuff. Hands start at chin allowing loose arm to get deep out back before M-3/4 release point; controls his body well with high front knee transferring weight from leg to leg. FB 82-85 with angle to both sides of the plate; pitch is firm jumping on hitters with flashes of arm side run and ability to induce swing and miss. SLD 69-73 10/4-to-10/5 action with ability to bend RHH’s; pitch has the ability to change the depth for more swing and miss while also having feel early in counts. CHG 79-80 sells well with arm side fade and ability to throw on both sides of the plate. Behind the plate the skills are very strong with arm strength showing up and ability to keep the ball on the bag (2.04-2.13 Pop); very quiet behind the dish showing a good target and working to help his pitchers. Bat is very strong showing quickness into the zone and firm wrists/hands. Picked up multiple hits with lots of hard contact through the weekend.

5-foot-10, 180-pound, thickly built with strength evenly distributed across his body, especially in his strong, well defined, lower half. Bowen posted the second best 60-time at the event at 6.95, the second best exit velocity at 88, the best catcher velocity of 82, and the best max fastball at 86. Took a turn in the outfield and showed off his big, strong, accurate arm. Shows average footwork in the outfield, but has enough athleticism in him to play the position and not be a liability. At the plate Bowen shows a balanced, smooth, strong approach using a toe-tap trigger before releasing his fast hands and barrel through the zone on a consistent and level plane. Has present gap-to-gap power that easily projects to over-the-fence power with continued physical maturation. Good feel for body connection. Advanced swing and barrel control. On the mound Bowen shows a late cutting fastball that he threw for strikes that he combines with an 11/5 curveball that is sharp with late break from the same arm slot/speed. The curveball has plus pitch potential. His changeup is above average now and he mixed in a knuckleball at 71 all from a high ¾ slot with quick arm actions.