Ryan Bowen earned reputation as hard-luck majors pitcher

Ryan Bowen's major league debut in 1991 appeared to start off well, holding the Cardinals hitless for five innings.

But he also gave up two runs, on a balk and a sacrifice fly. He then went on to lose the no-hitter in the sixth, Bowen ultimately giving up six runs, The Associated Press wrote.

"That's the way they do it in the majors," Bowen told The AP. "That's why they make millions of dollars."

Bowen went on to pitch in five major league seasons, earning a reputation as a hard-luck pitcher. That reputation was no more so apparent than as Bowen pitched as a member of the inaugural starting rotation of the Florida Marlins.

Bowen's career began in 1986, taken by the Astros in the first round of the draft out of Hanford High School in Hanford, Ca.

Bowen started at single-A Asheville, going 12-5, with a 4.04 ERA. Bowen made AA Columbus in 1989, then AAA Tucson in 1990. He made major league Houston that July in 1991.

With the Astros in 1991, Bowen started 13 games, going 6-4, with a 5.15 ERA. In September, Bowen threw seven innings of shutout ball, before being lifted after a double in the eighth. He went on to get a no decision in the Astros loss.

Bowen returned to the Astros for 1992, starting nine games. But he also went without a win, going 0-7, with a 10.96 ERA. The performance was enough for the Astros to leave him unprotected in that November's expansion draft and enough for the Marlins to select him.

With the Marlins, Bowen earned a spot in the first Marlins rotation. He went 8-12 on the season, with a 4.42 ERA. In May, Bowen threw the team's first complete-game shutout, taking down the Cardinals. It ended up being the only complete-game shutout of his career.

"It feels good to finish something you started," Bowen told The South Florida Sun-Sentinel afterward. "I'm not talking about a complete game. It's the opportunity to go and get asked to finish what you started, to have them say 'Bo, go out and get the last out,' after the way the team fought hard all night."

Days earlier, Bowen had gone eight innings, giving up just one first-inning run. He also took the loss, 1-0.

At one point that year, though, he picked up only one win in 10-straight starts. That stretch was something he told The Sun-Sentinel in July he wasn't too concerned about.

"If you harp on wins and losses you'll drive yourself crazy," Bowen told The Sun-Sentinel after finally getting another win in July. "I'd rather harp on pitching well."

Bowen, though, returned for just eight starts in 1994, going 1-5. In seven of those starts, into early May, Bowen failed to get a win. His only win came in August.

Going into 1995, Bowen tried to overcome an injury suffered playing basketball in the off-season. The injury required reconstructive knee surgery. Bowen didn't return to the majors until September, getting four final outings and picking up two wins to no losses.

Bowen played two more seasons in the minors, and a third in independent ball, ending his career without returning to the majors.

Originally published Jan. 5, 2012

• Bonham Daily Favorite, Associated Press, July 23, 1991: St. Louis birds bury Astros
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel, May 16, 1993: Bowen's Work Is, At Last, Complete
• South Florida Sun-Sentinel, July 20, 1993: Marlins Top Rockies 3-1

More: The 1990 Columbus Mudcats

More 1990 Minor Leaguers:

 - Toby Borland almost quit pros, then made 9 ML seasons, 10/7/21
 - Dean Borrelli played 8 pro seasons, turned coach, instructor, 2/23/14
 - Joseph Bosco wrote books on Peoria Chiefs, OJ trial, 11/26/19

 - Shawn Boskie saw 9 ML seasons, had complete-game in debut, 4/15/12
 - Dick Bosman helped young pitchers in minors, later majors, 7/6/10
 - Dave Boss came around in college game, saw 2 pro seasons, 2/9/17
 - Derek Botelho played in 2 ML seasons, coached in minors, 2/4/15
 - Alan Botkin played team game over 7 pro seasons, made AA, 5/11/17
 - Kent Bottenfield had tough insides, saw nine majors seasons, 4/17/14
 - Jake Botts threw high school no-hitter, saw 3 pro seasons, 5/26/19