Matt Bowman Bio
Matthew Chou Bowman (born May 31, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, Seattle Mariners, and Baltimore Orioles. Over the course of his MLB career, Bowman has logged a career earned run average of 4.38 with a win-loss record of 8–14 and 194 strikeouts.
Bowman began his professional journey after being selected by the New York Mets in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He later entered the St. Louis Cardinals organization through the 2015 Rule 5 draft, where he made his major league debut in 2016. Since then, he has been a journeyman reliever, frequently moving between organizations on minor league contracts and optioning between the majors and Triple-A affiliates.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Chou Bowman was born on May 31, 1991, and grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is the son of Margaret Chou and the late William Bowman. Bowman attended St. Albans School in Washington, D.C., where he developed into a standout two-way player on the baseball team. As a senior, he was named All-Met Player of the Year and All-Conference, excelling both as a shortstop and a right-handed pitcher. That year, he posted a 0.70 ERA on the mound and batted .419 at the plate.
His success in high school earned him a place at Princeton University, where he played college baseball for the Princeton Tigers from 2010 to 2012. At Princeton, Bowman served as both a pitcher and shortstop for the Tigers. He was recognized as a second-team All-Ivy League selection at shortstop during his sophomore year. By his junior season, he had established himself on the mound with a low-90s fastball that touched 95 mph, paired with a hard slider, a curveball, and a changeup.
During his college summers, Bowman pitched for the Bethesda Big Train, a well-known amateur baseball program based in Maryland. The experience helped sharpen his skills against high-level competition and prepared him for the next stage of his career. Following his junior year in 2012, he entered the MLB Draft, where the New York Mets selected him in the 13th round.
Path to Professional Baseball
The New York Mets selected Bowman in the 13th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, and he made his professional debut that same season with the Brooklyn Cyclones. In 29+1/3 innings pitched, he posted a 2.45 earned run average, signaling a strong start to his professional career. The following year, he began 2013 with the Savannah Sand Gnats and was promoted to the St. Lucie Mets during the season. Over 21 starts that year, Bowman recorded a 10–4 win-loss record with a 3.05 ERA and 116 strikeouts.
In 2014, Bowman split his season between the Binghamton Mets and the Las Vegas 51s, where he was promoted in July. Across 24 games, including 23 starts between the two clubs, he went 10–8 with a 3.21 ERA. The 2015 season saw him return to Las Vegas, but he struggled to a 7–16 record and a 5.53 ERA. Despite the rough year, Bowman remained on the Mets’ radar and was soon selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2015 Rule 5 draft, setting the stage for his MLB debut.
Matt Bowman Career
Early Career (2012-2015)
Bowman’s professional career began in the New York Mets’ minor league system in 2012. After a successful debut season with Brooklyn, he quickly moved up the ladder through Savannah, St. Lucie, Binghamton, and Las Vegas. By 2015, he was a full-time starter in the Pacific Coast League, although his numbers that season did not reflect his earlier promise. Even so, the St. Louis Cardinals saw enough potential to select him in the 2015 Rule 5 draft, a move that would launch his major league career.
The Rule 5 selection required St. Louis to keep Bowman on its major league roster, and the young pitcher made the most of his opportunity. His strong minor league resume, including a low-90s fastball and an advanced slider, gave him the tools to compete against big league hitters. The transition from the Pacific Coast League to the National League Central would become the defining step of his early career.
St. Louis Cardinals (2016-2018)
Matt Bowman made his MLB debut on April 6, 2016, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, throwing two innings and allowing one hit while striking out two. He earned his first MLB win on June 8, 2016, in relief against the Cincinnati Reds, capping a strong first taste of the majors. He finished his rookie season with a 2–5 record and a 3.46 ERA, establishing himself as a reliable bullpen option for the Cardinals.
In 2017, Bowman settled into a relief role and appeared in 58+2/3 innings, going 3–6 with two saves and a 3.99 ERA. His ability to handle middle and late innings made him a valuable piece of the St. Louis bullpen. The 2018 season proved more difficult, as he posted a 5.75 ERA in 20+1/3 innings before spending time in the minors. On November 2, 2018, Bowman was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds, ending his tenure in St. Louis.
Cincinnati Reds (2019)
Bowman began the 2019 season with the Louisville Bats and was promoted to the Reds in May. He spent time in the Cincinnati bullpen before the season ended, but the year was cut short when he underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-September 2020. On October 14, 2020, Bowman was outrighted off the Reds’ roster, and he elected free agency two days later.
New York Yankees (2020-2023)
On December 14, 2020, Bowman signed a two-year minor league contract with the New York Yankees organization. He did not pitch in 2021 as he recovered from surgery and missed the entire 2022 season. He elected free agency on November 10, 2022, before re-signing with the Yankees on a minor league deal on January 13, 2023.
During 2023, Bowman began with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, where he logged a 3.29 ERA with 36 strikeouts and three saves in 38+1/3 innings. After exercising an opt-out clause, he was released and later re-signed by the Yankees to a major league contract. He was promoted to the majors on September 10, 2023, and appeared in three games, allowing four runs on six hits with three strikeouts in four innings. Following the season, Bowman was removed from the 40-man roster and elected free agency on November 6.
Minnesota Twins (2024)
On January 18, 2024, Bowman signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. He made five scoreless appearances for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints to begin the year. On April 13, the Twins selected his contract to the major league roster, and he made five appearances for Minnesota, recording a 2.35 ERA with six strikeouts across 7+2/3 innings. On April 30, he was designated for assignment by the Twins.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2024)
On May 2, 2024, Bowman was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for cash. In four appearances for Arizona, he struggled to an 8.10 ERA with four strikeouts across 6+2/3 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment on May 26, cleared waivers, and elected free agency over an outright assignment on May 31.
Seattle Mariners (2024)
On June 4, 2024, Bowman signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. After two scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers, he was called up on June 9. He made only one appearance for Seattle before being designated for assignment on June 11. Bowman elected free agency on June 14, then re-signed with the team on a new minor league contract on June 16. In eight total appearances for Tacoma, he compiled a 3.60 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 10 innings. He exercised an opt-out clause and was released on July 1.
Minnesota Twins Second Stint (2024)
On July 4, 2024, Bowman signed a minor league contract to return to the Minnesota Twins organization. He exercised the opt-out clause in his contract on August 12, but the Twins chose to release him rather than add him to their roster.
Baltimore Orioles (2024-2025)
On August 15, 2024, Bowman signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. After two scoreless appearances for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, he was selected to the major league roster on August 22. In 15 appearances for Baltimore, he posted a 3.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 15+2/3 innings pitched. On November 4, he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Norfolk, but he rejected the assignment and elected free agency.
Bowman re-signed with the Orioles on December 20, 2024, on a minor league deal. On March 23, 2025, Baltimore selected his contract, but he was removed from the 40-man roster and sent to Norfolk on March 27. He was re-selected on March 30 following an injury to Albert Suárez, and recorded a 5.19 ERA with 12 strikeouts across 17+1/3 innings in 16 appearances. Bowman was designated for assignment on May 8, sent outright to Norfolk on May 10, and re-selected on May 28. After two more appearances, he was designated again on June 8, sent to Norfolk on June 10, and selected on June 29. He allowed four runs in 1+2/3 innings against the Texas Rangers on July 1, was designated the next day, returned to Norfolk on July 4, and was added back on August 22. After allowing two runs in 1+1/3 innings against the Houston Astros that day, he was designated for assignment on August 26 and released on August 29.
Houston Astros (2025)
On August 30, 2025, Bowman signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros organization. He made nine appearances, including one start, for the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, logging a 2-2 record and a 3.48 ERA with 11 strikeouts across 10+1/3 innings pitched. Bowman elected free agency following the season on November 6.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most defining moments of Matt Bowman’s career came on June 8, 2016, when he earned his first MLB win in relief against the Cincinnati Reds. That appearance marked his arrival as a major league pitcher and set the tone for a rookie year in which he recorded a 3.46 ERA. The unique path of his Rule 5 selection and his ability to bounce back from Tommy John surgery in 2020 also stand out as defining chapters. His time with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024 and 2025, in which he was repeatedly shuttled between Norfolk and the majors, further highlighted his resilience and his value as a flexible bullpen arm.
Matt Bowman Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Matt Bowman is the son of Margaret Chou and the late William Bowman. He is married to trial attorney Eve Levin, who is the daughter of South African-born businessman, medical doctor, and research scientist Jeremy Levin and Margery Feldberg. Margery Feldberg is the daughter of Stanley Feldberg, co-founder of TJX Companies. Bowman has often spoken about the role his family has played in his baseball journey, from his early days at St. Albans School to his years at Princeton University.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined by Bowman’s repeated movement between the Baltimore Orioles’ major league roster and the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. He opened the year in the minors before being added to Baltimore’s active roster on March 30. Across 16 appearances for the Orioles, he recorded a 5.19 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 17+1/3 innings, struggling to find consistent results at the major league level. He was designated for assignment three separate times, ultimately being released by Baltimore on August 29 after a difficult stretch of outings.
On August 30, 2025, Bowman signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros organization and joined the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys. In nine appearances, including one start, he posted a 2-2 record with a 3.48 ERA and 11 strikeouts across 10+1/3 innings. He elected free agency on November 6, leaving the door open for another opportunity heading into the offseason.
Looking ahead, Bowman remains a free agent following the 2025 season. His track record of moving between organizations and excelling in the upper minors suggests he will be a candidate for another minor league deal. Whether he returns to a major league bullpen or continues in the Triple-A ranks, his long professional journey stands as a testament to perseverance in professional baseball.