Jonathan Bowlan

Bowlan attended Bartlett High School in Bartlett, Tennessee. He enrolled at the University of Memphis and played college baseball for the Memphis Tigers. In 2018, Bowlan set a Tigers and American Athletic Conference record with 18 strikeouts in one game.^[1]

The Kansas City Royals selected Bowlan in the second round of the 2018 Major League Baseball draft.^[2][3] Bowlan made his professional debut with the rookie–level Idaho Falls Chukars, going 1–4 with a 6.94 ERA over 35 innings.

Bowlan started 2019 with the Single–A Lexington Legends and was promoted to the High–A Wilmington Blue Rocks during the season.^[4] Pitching for Wilmington in July, he threw a no-hitter against the Carolina Mudcats.^[5] Over 26 games (23 starts) between the two teams, Bowlan went 11–5 with a 3.14 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 146 innings.^[6] He did not play a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.^[7] In 2021, Bowlan appeared in only four games in prior to undergoing Tommy John surgery in May.^[8]

On November 19, 2021, the Royals added Bowlan to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.^[9] He split the 2022 season between the Double–A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, High–A Quad Cities River Bandits, and rookie–level Arizona Complex League Royals. In 17 total starts, he posted a combined 1–4 record and 5.92 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 62+1⁄3 innings pitched.^[10]

Bowlan was optioned to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to begin the 2023 season.^[11] In 24 games (21 starts) split between Northwest Arkansas and the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, he registered a cumulative 7–11 record and 5.91 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 102 innings of work. On September 19, 2023, Bowlan was promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[12] He appeared in two games for the Royals, pitching three innings and registering a 3.00 ERA.

Bowlan was optioned to Triple–A Omaha to begin the 2024 season.^[13] He made one start for Kansas City on the year, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts in 2+2⁄3 innings pitched against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Bowlan was again optioned to Triple-A Omaha to begin the 2025 season.^[14] On May 21, 2025, Bowlan recorded his first career win against the San Francisco Giants.^[15] He made 34 appearances (one start) for Kansas City, compiling a 1-2 record and 3.86 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 44+1⁄3 innings pitched.^[16]

On December 19, 2025, Bowlan was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Matt Strahm.^[17]

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