Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

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A product of the same high school (Stevens in Rapid City, S.D.) that produced Mark Ellis, Bowman could have a similar future as a multidimensional second baseman. He starred for two years as a shortstop at Iowa Western CC, batting .418 with 44 steals in 84 games and helping the Reivers finish runner-up at the 2019 Junior College World Series, before transferring to Louisville for 2021. He has settled in at second and the leadoff spot and become the Cardinals' most dependable hitter outside of potential No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis. 

Bowman has a smooth right-handed swing, good feel for hitting and a patient approach, allowing him to make regular contact and get on base. He has a quick bat with solid raw power and can drive the ball out of the park from gap to gap, giving him 15-20 homer potential. He's surprisingly fast for a 6-foot, 205-pounder, recording plus to plus-plus run times and showing a knack for stealing bases. 

Though he has slightly improved his arm strength since junior college, Bowman still is average at best in that regard and throws with a funky stroke, so he's better suited for second base than shortstop on an everyday basis. His quickness gives him good range at the keystone, though he needs to improve his consistency. He runs well enough to play center field if needed. 

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 40 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

A transfer to Louisville after two seasons at Iowa Western CC helped Bowman raise his amateur stock in time for the 2021 Draft, when the Yankees selected him in the fourth round. He joined the A’s midway through the 2022 season as part of the return package from New York for Frankie Montas and Lou Trivino. After settling in with the new organization, he seemed to take off in 2023 at Double-A Midland, slashing .262/.358/.435 with eight homers, 17 doubles and 38 RBIs in 68 games. He followed that up in 2024 by hitting 12 homers and swiping 43 bases between Double-A and Triple-A, and will now get the chance to stick in the big leagues after the Reds took him in December’s Rule 5 Draft.

Bowman’s short right-handed swing helps him make plenty of contact. He did lower his strikeout rate in 2023, though it came in a shortened season due to injuries. He has worked on launching the ball more consistently, but his power remains a fringe average tool at best.

Bowman is a quick-twitch athlete who can really run, which also helps him cover a lot of ground in the field. He plays good defense at second base and got a lot of reps in the outfield last year to add versatility to his game. He gets high marks for his toughness, but staying on the field was a bit of a concern as he dealt with elbow, shoulder and hamstring issues throughout 2023.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

After two successful years at Iowa Western CC, Bowman transferred to Louisville for the 2021 season. He landed in the fourth round to the Yankees after serving as the Cardinals’ leadoff hitter that spring and has reminded some of his fellow Stevens HS (Rapid City, S.D.) product Mark Ellis, albeit with more speed. While he wasn’t hitting well, he was running and stealing bags during his first full season of pro ball when he was part of the package sent to the A’s in the Frankie Montas deal. He’s performed better up in Double-A in his first full year with Oakland, though he missed more than a month with elbow, shoulder and thumb injuries from a wide tag collision, then was shelved again in August with a hamstring issue.

Bowman records plus-plus run times and shows a knack for stealing bases, with more speed than you might expect for a 6-foot, 205-pounder. He has a reputation for making a ton of contact with a short right-handed swing and a patient approach, but his strikeout rate did go up in 2022 as he was working to tap more into his raw power. He had tightened things up in Double-A in 2023, but still has the strength and bat speed to approach average power as he continues to learn to launch balls more consistently.

The athletic Bowman can cover a ton of ground up the middle, with second base the best fit because his arm is a little short for the premium position, though he can fill in there. There had been some discussion in the past about letting him roam around center field, but he’s never played a game there. He's an average defender who needs more consistency at second.

Scouting grades: Hit: 45 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40 

Bowman spent two years at Iowa Western CC, batting .418 with 44 steals in 84 games and helping the Reivers place second at the 2019 Junior College World Series, before transferring to Louisville for 2021. He took over as the Cardinals' leadoff hitter and went in the fourth round to the Yankees, signing for $353,000. He's from the same high school (Stevens in Rapid City, S.D.) as 12-year big leaguer Mark Ellis and projects as a similar if speedier multidimensional second baseman. He was showing off his wheels, though not producing much with the bat, during his full-season debut in High-A in 2022 when he was one of four prospects sent to the A’s in return for Frankie Montas.

Quicker than most 6-foot, 205-pounders, Bowman can flash plus-plus run times and shows aptitude for stealing bases. Known for making regular contact with a compact right-handed swing and patient approach, Bowman was working on tapping more into his solid raw power. He has the strength and bat speed to produce 15-20 homers per year if he can learn to launch balls more regularly, and while he was drawing walks as usual, his strikeout rate had jumped in 2022 at the time of the trade.

An outstanding athlete, Bowman covers ground in the middle infield but is better suited for second base than shortstop with his ordinary arm and funky throwing stroke. He has gotten some time at shortstop and there was some talk about exposing him to center field, though he’s yet to appear in a game there. He's an average defender who needs more consistency at second base, and he could be solid or better in center.

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 65 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 40

Bowman came out of the same high school (Stevens in Rapid City, S.D.) as 12-year big leaguer Mark Ellis and is cut from the same mold as a multidimensional second baseman. He started for two years as a shortstop at Iowa Western CC, hitting .418 with 44 steals in 84 games and helping the Reivers finish second at the 2019 Junior College World Series, before transferring to Louisville for 2021. He became the Cardinals' leadoff hitter and went in the fourth round to the Yankees, signing for $353,000.

With a smooth right-handed swing, feel for hitting and a patient approach, Bowman makes consistent contact and regularly gets on base. His bat speed and strength give him solid raw power and he shows the ability to drive the ball out of the park from gap to gap. Surprisingly fast for a 6-foot, 205-pounder, he can flash plus-plus run times and has a knack for stealing bases.

Bowman is better suited for second base than shortstop because his arm is average at best and he throws with a funky stroke. His quickness gives him plenty of range, though he needs to improve his defensive consistency. If he can't stick on the dirt, he runs well enough to play center field.

Awards

TEX Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

TEX Player of the Week

Week	Team
07/28/2024
05/19/2024

SOU Pitcher of the Month

Month	Team
05/2024

TEX Player of the Month

Month	Team
05/2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	12/11/2024	Cincinnati Reds purchased contract of 2B Cooper Bowman from Athletics in the Rule 5 Draft.
	07/31/2024	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to Las Vegas Aviators from Midland RockHounds.
	06/26/2024	Midland RockHounds activated 2B Cooper Bowman from the 7-day injured list.
	06/18/2024	Midland RockHounds placed 2B Cooper Bowman on the 7-day injured list.
	03/07/2024	Oakland Athletics Prospects activated 2B Cooper Bowman.
	11/30/2023	Oakland Athletics invited non-roster 2B Cooper Bowman to spring training.
	08/17/2023	Midland RockHounds activated 2B Cooper Bowman from the 7-day injured list.
	07/29/2023	Midland RockHounds placed 2B Cooper Bowman on the 7-day injured list.
	07/07/2023	Midland RockHounds activated 2B Cooper Bowman from the 7-day injured list.
	06/29/2023	sent 2B Cooper Bowman on a rehab assignment to ACL Athletics.
	06/29/2023	Midland RockHounds sent 2B Cooper Bowman on a rehab assignment to ACL Athletics.
	05/20/2023	Midland RockHounds placed 2B Cooper Bowman on the 7-day injured list.
	04/06/2023	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to Midland RockHounds.
	03/02/2023	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to Oakland Athletics.
	03/02/2023	2B Cooper Bowman roster status changed by Oakland Athletics.
	08/01/2022	Oakland Athletics traded RHP Frankie Montas and RHP Lou Trivino to New York Yankees for LHP Ken Waldichuk, LHP JP Sears, RHP Luis Medina and 2B Cooper Bowman.
	08/01/2022	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to Lansing Lugnuts.
	04/04/2022	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to Hudson Valley Renegades.
	03/23/2022	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to New York Yankees.
	03/23/2022	2B Cooper Bowman roster status changed by New York Yankees.
	09/05/2021	Tampa Tarpons activated 2B Cooper Bowman from the 7-day injured list.
	08/29/2021	Tampa Tarpons placed 2B Cooper Bowman on the 7-day injured list.
	08/03/2021	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to Tampa Tarpons from FCL Yankees.
	07/29/2021	2B Cooper Bowman assigned to FCL Yankees.
	07/17/2021	New York Yankees signed 2B Cooper Bowman.