Cooper Bowman, a second baseman for the Oakland A’s, was promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas after hitting.281 with a.378 OBP in Double-A Midland. He also swung 35 bags. In 2022, the A’s acquired Bowman from the New York Yankees as a part of the trade for Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino. Luis Medina, Ken Waldichuk, and JP Sears were also acquired by Oakland.
The 24-year-old from Louisville was initially chosen by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He has always been a fascinating player with a combination of power and speed as well as the ability to draw walks. Aside from the 33 games he participated in in High-A Lansing immediately following his trade in 2022, Bowman’s OBPs have hovered around.350 during each of his professional career’s stops.
He has tremendously improved this year, with a 136 wRC+ in his second stint in Double-A, while also increasing his walk rate to 12.4% and somewhat decreasing his strikeout rate to 20.2%. His season total of 47 stolen bases, divided between the A’s and Yankees systems in ’22, is his career high. With a little bit of the season remaining and having already made one swipe in Triple-A, he has a real chance to set a new career best.
Bowman has played in nine games for the Aviators so far (.444), collecting two RBI, a walk, a strikeout, and a stolen base. His OBP through two games is now.500 thanks to the walk.
Since this is Bowman’s first trip to Triple-A, it’s unlikely that the A’s will give him a look right away. However, if he keeps up his current level of play, he might rise up the depth chart as the 2025 season draws near.
But before that happens, the A’s need to decide whether to add him to the 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft. Bowman’s breakthrough season in ’24 makes it seem likely that he will make the roster, at least one of the coveted places.
