Pirates’ Bowen has one professional season in the books

        Less than one year ago, Central Catholic senior shortstop and Northwood resident Jase Bowen was voted the Alan Miller Jewelers Offensive Player of the Year by area baseball coaches and media members.
        That summer, Bowen was playing professional baseball with the Pirates of the Gulf Coast League. The Pittsburgh Pirates chose him with the 334th pick in the 11th round on June 5 …
        The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Bowen played in 36 games and batted .223 (29 for 130) with a .301 on base percentage, .315 slugging percentage and .617 OPS (on base plus slugging). He had four doubles, four triples, seven RBIs, five stolen bases, and 14 walks.
        “Last year was good. I definitely had moments where I struggled, and I had moments where I was really good,” Bowen said. “You can really tell that there is a big change, not only physically, but mentally it’s really big. Every day was a learning opportunity and I took it as that. I kind of fought through it. I had a great time and I loved it every day. It’s really the thing I wanted to do so I was pumped.”
        He even got his first professional walk-off hit.
        “At the plate, I had a walk-off and that was really cool,” Bowen said. “My teammates came out and threw Gatorade on me, which was really fun. It was an extra base hit in the gap. It was awesome.”
        Bowen says “most impressive” was that he did not make an error playing second base and all three outfield positions, fielding 1.000. He was 51 for 51 in outfield putouts and at second was perfect in 58 chances, getting 28 putouts, 30 assists, and was part of eight double plays.
        Hurricane Dorian cut short the season by two games, plus the playoffs were canceled, but Bowen got to play four weeks in the fall instructional league. He said the entire summer and fall experience was eye-opening.
        “I made a lot of new friends that are my age from around the country and the culture is so different, too, with guys from around the world,” Bowen said.
        “There were a lot of coaches, a lot of guys — we had roving coaches who kind of see everywhere and they would come down, but obviously not everyone in that league was a first-year guy. It was a lot of nerves and they would calm nerves and kind of take it day by day,” Bowen continued.
        “They were super supporting, super encouraging, very positive. They did a great job, and a lot of them are ex-baseball players, so they’ve been there, they can offer advice and what to do. They are awesome.”
 
Second pro season on hold
        Fast track to a few months back, and Bowen was in his first spring training with the Pirates.
        “Spring training was great — it was so much fun. I went down early, and I saw the big leaguers and I got to be a base runner for their drills and stuff. I got called up for a big league game which was super cool because there was a park full of fans and being in the dugout with the big league guys and that was a super cool moment to be in the clubhouse with them, signing some autographs. It was a special moment for me — kind of my first special fan experience moment, so that was awesome,” Bowen said.
        “None of the young guys played (in the major league spring training game). They did it for experience, but for spring training I performed very well. My hitting, everything worked out, and I was doing a really good job throughout camp and playing a couple positions.”
        He never got to find out where he would start the 2020 season because the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to everything. The following week, the Pirates were to hold meetings determining where he would start the season. Bowen just wants to get back to playing pro baseball.
        “I’m hoping they get a handle this year, because I’m not really sure if we are going to play at all from the looks of it. Hopefully, we get some type of year in, but if not, it is what it is. Everybody is being affected and hopefully they can get us back as soon as possible,” Bowen said.
        Bowen returned home to his family where he has continued to work out.
        “I’m working on hitting the best I can. I’ve been working out with my best friend in my basement. We have a treadmill down there and we lift weights, doing as much as I can honestly. The Pirates have sent some workouts that I can do with those weights, and I’ve been doing those. My dad (Ryan) and I have been kind of old school, going in the back yard and in the streets throwing, hitting grounders, doing whatever we can to just kind of stay on top of things, but it’s been tough,” Bowen said.
        “There has been a lot of texting back and forth. I’ll take a video of me hitting and they (Pirates) will give me some pointers and say, ‘You’re doing a really good job — keep working,’ depending on whoever it is. Ground balls, we will record that, and they track all my workouts so they know definitely what I’m doing on those, too. I want to say twice a week a nutritionist will text me and say, ‘Hey, are you doing good with food?’ and I’ll say, ‘No problem,’ and they’ll ask, ‘Are you traveling anywhere? Are you safe?’ — All of that kind of stuff. They are really on-point with things.”
        His senior year at Central, Bowen was voted the state’s Division II Player of the Year by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association. He helped the Irish finish 18-9 by batting .550 (44-for-80) with nine doubles, six triples, one home run, 31 runs, 31 RBIs, 15 walks and 14 stolen bases. He only struck out seven times.
        During this pandemic, his former high school coach, Jeff Mielcarek, has been a big help, too.
        “I talk to Mielcarek probably two or three times a week, just kind of staying updated and that kind of stuff. Jeff Mielcarek is always there for me and he’s a good guy to have in my corner,” Bowen said.
        Of course, there is one pleasant side, he says, and that is getting to spend time with his family.
        “I wasn’t supposed to see my parents until I got home in September. Today is my mom’s birthday so I got to spend it with her, so it’s great to have quality family time,” Bowen said.