Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - Getting to Know Mariners RHP Prospect Darren Bowen!

Episode Date: June 22, 2023

Darren Bowen was the Mariners' 13th-round pick out of UNC Pembroke in last year's draft. Now healthy, the 22-year old righty has made a lot of noise in just 6.1 innings pitched for Low-A Modesto, sporting a high 90s fastball with 19 inches of induced vertical break and some intriguing secondary offerings to boot. Ty sits down with Bowen to discuss his goals for the rest of 2023, how he's added velocity while rehabbing the past 11 months, and more!Be sure to follow or subscribe to Locked On Mariners wherever you prefer your podcasts! For questions and other inquiries, email: [e-mail] the show on Twitter: @LO_Mariners | @danegnzlz | @CPat11BirddogsGo to birddogs.com/lockedonmlb and they’ll throw in a free custom birddogs Yeti-style tumbler with every order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Darren Bowen may have been a 13th round pick just a year ago, but he's certainly not pitching like when to begin in his professional baseball career. I talk with the Mariners right-handed pitching prospect today on the Locked-on Mariners podcast. Let's get into it. You are Locked-on Mariners, your daily Seattle Mariners podcast, part of the Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day. Oh, Hoy, Sailors. It is Thursday, June 22nd, 2023.

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eBay guaranteed fit, only available to U.S. customers, eligible items, only exclusions apply. Thank you so much for making us your first listen. Subscribe, like, and turn on alerts if you're watching on YouTube, or subscribe and leave a five-star review on your preferred podcast platform if you like what you hear. And if you're part of the crew and rock with us every single day, let us know in the comments below.

And if you want to hear from us even more, please consider signing up for our Patreon. You can now get a free seven-day trial to check out the show. The link as well as our social accounts is in the description of this episode. Mirror's pitching prospect, Darren Bowen will be joining us

in a few wonderful conversation that I think you'll enjoy, maybe a first introduction to Bowen for a lot of you. Before we get into that, have a couple of things that I want to talk about quickly. First of all, apologies for no show last night. We were planning on doing a post-game show.

even if the mayor is lost, but then the mayor's offense did what they did. And Colby and I were just not into talking about that again. We really didn't have much to say, and we just needed a mental break, and I'm sure some of you did as well. So apologies, though, for no show and not giving you more of a heads up on that front.

Secondly, Colby's not going to be a part of the interview. He has something going on today, or he said that he had something kind of up in the air. So I just went ahead and did it and we're just going to post this and get that out to you as soon as possible. Thirdly, I wrote an article, believe it or not. Maybe some of you didn't even know that I write in general.

I haven't wrote anything in about a year or so. I shook off the rest a little bit and decided to write about Julio, who of course I've talked about a lot on this show on our Patreon on social media. And instead of posting more, numbers that can be taken out of context. I decided to just post all of my findings and one place on my substack.

So I'm going to put the link for that in the description of this show on YouTube and on podcast platforms. So you can give that a read if you want. There's a lot of interesting stuff about Julio and why he's not exactly performing the way that we want him to so far this year. We'll probably also talk a little bit about that at some point on this show. We, Colby and I had some discoveries on that front that we think are really interesting that we want to talk about. So we'll probably do a segment or maybe even two on that in a future episode.

But for now, let's move on to Darren Bowen, the Mariners right-handed pitching prospect. Really enjoyed this conversation. I think you will as well. And that's going to be the show. The rest of the show is the interview. There will be, you know, an ad, of course, and an outro. but that's it. Colby and I will be back at it tomorrow. We'll probably do a trade a day.

We'll probably talk a little bit about this Yankees series depending on what happens tonight, of course. And we'll get you set for the Mariners and the Orioles, which you can catch on the Mayor's hometown broadcast, a series XM via the SXM app. All right, let's talk to Darren Bowen. Darren's 13th round pick in last year's draft in his first six innings at Lowe, Modesto,

have caught the attention of Mariners' fans. and scouts on social media. And now he joins us here on the Lockdown Mariners podcast. Darren, welcome to the show. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me. It's almost been a full year since you got drafted. You became just the 15th UNC. Pembroke alum to get drafted.

What did that mean to you and what has the past 11 months been like for you? It was a lot of fun. Like, there was a lot of uncertainty heading into the drafts. Not sure if I was going back to school. like it's a smaller school just there's no certainty when going to a smaller school if you're going to get drafted or not you know I felt like I'd done everything I could didn't have the best numbers but I had had a good career there but I felt like personally I done everything I could with during the off-season training stuff like that to put me in the best best spot I felt like

in order to give me a chance to be drafted and you know that's ultimately the goal you know if I knew my name was going to be called I was going like I was probably not going back to school It's been a goal in mine to sell younger. You know, a lot of people probably didn't think it was possible. There was times where, you know, I didn't think it was possible. You know, everybody goes through up and downs, and I'm going to have up and downs and pro ball as well. I mean, it's a tough game that we all try to perfect,

but, I mean, it's a lot of fun at the same time as well. Last two years, we've had two guys drafted at Pembroke. The other kid that was drafted the year before me is probably about to make his debut in Pro Bowl. He's with the Dodgers, really, really good ball player. So Pembroke produces good baseball football. players. It's just the fact that we're a smaller school and we're division two school, but I mean, we have guys that compete at division one levels across the board.

So for those that don't know, you started the year in extended spring training. You just recently joined Louis Modesto, like I mentioned. What are some of your expectations and goals for the rest of the year? I think I've had a good start to the year, mainly because I've been putting myself in competitive counts. I think I've only faced like 20 hitters so far. but out of those 20 hitters I've had one batter that was a non-competitive at bat. It was a four-pitch walk. Besides that bat, I have put myself in competitive counts, and I've been able to go to compete to each hitter,

which is all you can do as a pitcher, you can ask for. Once the ball leaves your hand, you can't control what happens next. So I think if I can just continue to put myself in good counts and try to get ahead of hitters and just let myself play. That's the big thing. I don't necessarily have goals or expectations. I just want to go out there. know that I'm given 100%

and going to live with the results. And that's all you can do when you try to get caught up in numbers and whatnot. You know, the game can become really stressful, even though it's a numbers game, but you try to stay at all that stuff. So that basketball of yours is pretty nuts. Joe Doyle, a Future Stars series, has you sitting in 94 to 97.

You can reach 98 with 19 inches of induced vertical break. Take us through the development of that pitch for you and how you're able to get that kind of ride on it. It's pretty natural. I just try to throw it. It's never been that hard until as of late. When I was in college, when I first got to college, I was 142 pounds and my fastball topped 86. So I was anywhere in the range from 80 to 86, going to D2 school. And when I got there, one of the coaches, Coach Jefferson, he kind of really took me under his wing. and we hit the weight room hard. I gained 20, 25 pounds.

I'm still small, but, you know, I was 142 pounds. I'm like 173, 174 now. So it's just been the point of not necessarily trying to gain weight, but trying to get my body stronger to be able to handle more V-Lo and different things like that. Got on a throwing program and kind of just ticked up slowly. I think I hit 95 my junior college last year. I probably sat 91, 92.

food, a good frame, projectable frame, got here, dealt with a couple of injuries. So I know you mentioned that extended spring training. I was actually in rehab. Why I joined Modesto late. And then I had probably three outings after that and got up here. So I was a little nervous. I didn't really face live hitting other than three times in the past year. But I was just ready to get up here and compete.

You know, that's what they drafted me for. And, you know, I didn't want to stay in rehab any longer. I was in rehab for like 10 months. I want to say nine months almost since I got here. So it just felt good, you know, getting healthy again and getting rehab. And the guys in our rehab department have done an amazing job. And I think that's where I've gained the extra three to four miles an hour sitting since I've gotten here.

And I think it's come from the rehab work that I put in and the guys on the Mariner's side, having me do and staying consistent with me. And it's been the world of difference. More from my conversation with Mariners pitching prospect, Darren Bowen, in just a moment. of a first, a reminder, this episode of the Locked-on Mariners podcast is brought to you by Bird Dogs. Now, I hate shopping for summer clothes. I just want to be comfortable no matter if I'm at the ballpark or back at home recording an episode of Locked-on M's. Oftentimes, though, I find myself

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Marlins in the Yankees tonight or the Marys and the Orioles over the course of the weekend on the airs hometown broadcast series xm via the s xm app now let's go back to my interview with darren bowen so now that you're healthy mechanically and physically speaking what are you focused on improving right now any of your secondary is adding weight or muscle anything like that um everything i mean everything needs improvement i mean i'm still minors by i pitch six professional innings you know hard times are going to come fun time we're still going to but excuse me but the the main thing is you know throw the fastball harder. You know, that's that's the mariner way. If you can throw your fastball harder, your secondary pitches are automatically going to play better. So, you know, if I can say,

start throwing 100, sit 100 eventually in the future, you know, that's a long ways away, but just different things like that, then your secondary pitches are automatically going to become better, even if they're the same exact that they are now, just by throwing your fastball harder. So since you've arrived in the Mariners organization, has there been anyone that's, you know, really taking you under their wing, anything like that? I wouldn't say necessarily taken under my wing. I was a college guy, so it's not like I was really a high school guy, even though I look extreme. The thing that caught my eye, I never told him this.

He was across me during spring train before he got moved to the big league side. I never told him this. But Brian Wu, when I first got there, the Arizona Fall League was going on. And I went to a game by myself, and he had started. And I'm like, wow, this kid's good. He was sitting like 95, 97, you know, had some good. breaking pitches had a really good out. And I'm sitting here thinking like, wow, this kid's really, really good.

And so the next day I come in, rehab, whatever, and he's in there early, getting working the next day, like doing mobility stuff. And I'm sitting here thinking, like, you know, he just had a great outing. And he's here, like, very early the next day trying to get ready for his next right out. And like, he wasn't even thinking about that. And I think that was one of the things that clicked in my head when I seen him doing that, like, okay, yeah, this is how you work. And I've never told him that, but just seeing how he did that and how he went about that process the next day, very early, being in there doing his own routine, stuff like that.

I think it was kind of cool to see, even though I didn't know him at the time and didn't know he was going to be in the big leagues this year or anything like that. But it was kind of cool just to see how he went about that process of, you know, the outing meant nothing out. I mean, it's over and done with, you know, we're looking forward to the next outing. And I've kind of taken that and kind of ran with that. It's like anything I've done in the past, you know, it doesn't really mean anything. It's all about the next outing. You're listening to the Lockdown Mariners podcast. We've got Mariners right-handed pitching prospect,

Darren Bowen, joining us on the show right now. Darren, you just mentioned Brian Wu, Logan Gilbert, George Kirby. We've seen a lot of homegrown pitching talents come up and have success right away at the Major League level within the Mariners organization. They've built quite the reputation for themselves. Is that something that you were already aware of before or when you got drafted

or is that something that you quickly caught on to? as you've been a part of this organization over the last 11 months. I didn't know much about the Mariners before I got drafted here. I was a huge Red Sox hand. Not anymore. Mariners got now. But when I got here, you know, I obviously did some research and stuff on it and had a lot of people telling me that, you know, they're really good at homegrown talent

and homegrown pitching especially. So I did some research and started looking into it more and quickly seeing that they have a lot of guys that came from their farm system that they have in the big leagues. And even this year alone, like how many guys have, they gave opportunities to. So the Mariners is no short in opportunities. Like if you do, if you go out there and do what you're supposed to do, you're gonna get a shot.

And that's one thing that the Mariners do and they're gonna give you a shot. So the goal is to get a shot and there's a lot of work ahead, but I'm here for it. So when you get to the big leagues, very simple question. Who do you wanna face the most? Team wise or player wise? Either or.

I mean, I'm sure you wanna face the Red Sox, right? Like, you want to pitch a Fenway. It would definitely be, like, a surreal moment to face. Player-wise, man, I don't know. I think just every player I've grown up watching would be really cool. You know what I mean, if you get a strikeout Mike Trout, like Brown Wood did two times in an outing this year. Like, that has to be like a surreal moment.

You know, he's one of the best players in baseball. But there's a lot of guys. Like, you got to strike out Shoahe O'Honnie or even just face them, just knowing that you're good enough to be on the same field as them. and is really a surreal feeling. And that's what everybody wants to be able to deal with or experience one day. And I hope I get to experience that as well.

So this interview might be the first real introduction to you for a lot of Mariners fans. So let's get to know a bit more about you. What do you like to do in your spare time? Lately, sleep. Yeah, all right. I'm just kind of used to this minor league schedule and everything, but I love to golf, play a little bit of video games,

play the show. I just recently gotten to golf in about two years ago, so I'm not very good. So my lowest I'm shot six. So I'm still working on that. I'd like to hang out with my girlfriend, get her up here when she can. Going picnics, little stuff like that. Just enjoy spending time with her. Other than that, I'm a really easy-going guy, watching TV, some TV shows.

Love watching college baseball and watching the College World Series as it goes on and stuff. and I like just seeing a lot of baseball stuff. So I'll be on Twitter looking at the MLB draft combine that's going on right now with just stuff like that. I really enjoy watching baseball and being around the game as well. What's your assessment so far of the College World Series? Who do you think is going to take it? Man, I don't know.

Wake Forest LSU is probably going to be one of them too. Probably one of the biggest pitching matchups tonight in college world series history. So it should be a lot of fun. So you already mentioned your favorite team. Who was your favorite Red Sock growing up? David Ortiz. Yeah, big poppy. Pretty simple answer there.

Yeah, yeah. Favorite piece of gear that you own baseball-wise, cleats, glove, doesn't matter? Recently, I got my first professional trikow ball. That's probably the cool that I have right now. Just something that's pretty cool, that, you know, something that I've worked for my whole life since I was three or four years old. And I've missed a lot of stuff to be able to get that ball. Birthday parties, everything, like anything kid-wise that you think,

you're doing hanging out with friends or anything like that i pretty much missed i had a tournament or training or something and you know a lot of sacrifices were made not only by me by my family by my mom um in order for me to get that so i think that has a lot of sentimental value to it that's awesome i love that um favorite meal favorite meal who i love spaghetti a big pasta guy spaghetti barbecue ribs um yeah stuff i'm not picky at all though i eat just about anything i don't don't like tomatoes that's about it i'm with you on the there i don't like tomatoes either pretty pretty easy got it get on wood with food uh you have a favorite i know you've only been in modesto here for like a little bit have you actually have you

pitched a medesto yet yes okay okay so you so you have um so i know it's been you know a quick amount of time there but have you found like a favorite spot to eat yet in modesto not really um I don't live in Modesto, so I really eat there too much. It doesn't look like there's too much to do here, but I'm normally just cooking food in my apartment when I do eat if we're not eating at the field. Gotcha. You mentioned TV shows, favorite movie or TV show? Not necessarily a favorite. I'm going to kind of watch like All-American right now and the homecoming one and grinding that.

just the basic stuff that everybody pretty much watches that's on Netflix. You know, nothing too crazy or anything like that. Just the normal stuff, really. Whatever's on the top 10 or I'll try to find something, watch a couple episodes of it, see if it's good. Lastly, when I tweeted that you were coming on the show, one of your former coaches, Alex Pierce, quote, tweeted it and said, uh-oh, we could get some classic Darren Bowen hot takes.

So, Darren, I'm going to put you on the spot. what is your hottest take baseball or otherwise? I don't know, man. I've gotten a lot of trouble by saying some of my takes before. I did say that Shoahe O'Tonni was going to win the 21 MVP. I would like to put that out there before the season started. I also said, you know, Mike Trout probably won't see this, but I also said that Shungayotani is probably the most important player on the Angels

before that season started as well. Definitely tough take. That's Mike Trout. First Belt Hall of favor. He's a great player. but what Shoah can do offensively and with the bat is something you may never see again. So that was one. Another one that a lot of people didn't like in college was I said I could strike out Babe Ruth.

And a lot of people said that it's relative and stuff like that. And I was like Babe Ruth has never seen a 95-by-an-hour fastball. That's real. That's real. And put them in today's time. I'm a guy that feels like he wouldn't have a shot. But I can't tell. He hits 700 home runs.

You know, he's done way more in the league than I've ever done. I've never even set foot there. So, I mean, I'll still give him his credit. He's a great baseball player. But with today's work and the work that today's athletes put in, it's not even comparable to what they did back in the day. You know, they showed up to the ballpark. I probably had a couple beers or something and played baseball.

Yep. Like, we're going to give ourselves the best shot to get there. So a lot of people didn't like the, the off strikeout baby Ruth one, but I'll die on a hill on that one. His, both of his ACLs would snap. If he saw like a matte brush slider. Yeah, but anybody in the league that you can do that one. I don't know.

That wasn't, everybody says it's relative, but I'm not a big relative guy. I mean, most of those dudes were like chain smoking in the dugout. It was a different time. It was a different time. I'm sure there's a lot more hot takes too. I can't think of them on the top of my head, but yeah, I always get the guys going with those. Well, Darren, this was, this was awesome. This was wonderful.

Thank you so much for hopping on. We'd love to do this again sometime. Good luck to you the rest of the year. Anything else you want to say to the Maris fan base before you hop off here? Go Merrim. That's really it. Just go in. That's right.

That's right. All right. Thanks, Darren. Appreciate it. All right. Thank you to Darren again for hopping on and letting us hear more about him and what he's about. Wonderful conversation. I hope you enjoyed it.

That's going to do it for our show. Again, you can catch the Marers and the Yankees or the Marys and the Orioles over the course of the weekend on the Marr's hometown broadcast with Sirius XM via the SXM app. Thank you so much for joining us. here on the Locked-on Mariners podcast. I've been your host, Tadian Gonzalez. Be sure to give us a follow on Twitter

at L-O-U-U-U-N-S-Riners. You can follow me at Dane Gonzalez, that's D-A-N-Z-L-Z and Colby at C-P-E-P-A-T-1-1. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok as well over at Locked-on Mariners. That's one word, Locked-on Mariners. You can also find all that stuff in the description of this episode.

Thank you again for making us your first. Listen, have yourself a beautiful baseball day, and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.