Getting to Know: Cubs 20th Rounder Drew Bowser |
Whenever you think of College baseball and all of the successful programs that have been part of history, Stanford immediately comes to mind. California University is known for being the Harvard of the West, but it is also very successful in athletics, especially baseball.
The Cubs have had some success with Stanford products as Nico Hoerner was drafted in the first round out of Standford seven years ago, and we have seen how that has turned out. Not everyone from Stanford will be a Hoerner, but the Cubs are banking on the competition side of things and the tradition itself with their 20th and final pick of the 2023 MLB draft as they landed Drew Bowser from Stanford University. Primarily a 3B in college, some scouts feel he could move around a bit, which is something to look for once his professional career gets going. Although he was selected in the final round, Bowser has been a household name for a while now, going back to when he stole the show at the Perfect Game All-American Classic in 2019. It was during that day when he won the pregame home run derby and the game’s Most Valuable Player award. His performance alone that day garnered him plenty of attention and some scouts had him as a round one or two selection in the 2020 MLB draft. Then came the COVID-shortened draft, which saw Bowser slip slightly further than he expected. Throw that into his firm commitment with Stanford, and it was an easy decision for him to head to school. Bowser started all three years for the Cardinals and hit 39 home runs, but his strikeouts increased each season. That is something to watch as he moves his way through the system, as the pitching does get better with every level. Bowser is a strong, physical 6-foot-4, 226-pound righthanded hitter with plus-plus raw power. He destroys balls to all fields with his natural strength, bat speed and posts top-end exit velocities. When he makes contact with the baseball, it is some of the best contacts in the country, but given his long swing, it does make him prone to strikeout, which is what the scouts point out. Also, Bowser chases way too many pitches out of the zone, and his pull-happy approach makes it difficult for him to cover the outside part of the plate. He will need to learn to hold that in at the professional level, or pitches will always work him away. Despite showcasing all of that potential in 2019 and 2020, Bowser has declined as a hitter to the point where he is now a below-average hitter with power similar to Patrick Wisdom. His plate discipline and pitch recognition could be better, and he has to rebuild his swing to become a complete hitter. Despite all those struggles as a hitter, Bowser is a versatile defender who spent time at both second and third base at Stanford. He alternately looks better at one position over the other, although he tends to be more reliable at second base. He is a below-average runner with above-average arm strength but poor accuracy. The most interesting part about Bowser is that he was high school teammates with the Cubs top prospect Pete-Crow Armstrong as the two of them formed a great bond in school. Despite being one of the most highly coveted prospects in the nation, he was a prospect for a reason, and things haven't gone as planned for Bowser in the years since. When Bowser does connect, he hits the ball hard and far. He’s a strong slugger with 35 home run a year potential, with a very low chance of getting there without significant improvements as those strikeout numbers must come down. He was ranked in the top 250 for this year's draft after getting taken 63rd overall last time. The Cubs hope his decision to stick around works in their favor, especially after acquiring him in the round they did.
