The Cincinnati Reds selected infielder/outfielder in December’s Rule 5 Draft from the Sacramento Athletics. Bowman spent most of the season in Double-A before finishing the final month-plus in Triple-A, where he transitioned to center field after primarily playing in the infield earlier in his career.
The Reds were drawn to his speed, versatility, and strong Double-A performance, where he hit .281/.378/.467 with 35 stolen bases. However, his offensive struggles in Triple-A raised concerns, as he batted just .218/.284/.308 over 38 games with poor average exit velocity, despite occasional strong contact.
Those issues carried into spring training, where the 25-year-old hit just .120/.267/.120 in 30 plate appearances across 13 games. Given his struggles, Cincinnati opted to return him to the Athletics rather than keep evaluating him.
This move reduces the Reds’ 40-man roster to 39 players, though effectively 38, as Brandon Williamson can be moved to the 60-day injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which will sideline him for the 2025 season.
With Bowman out of contention for a bench role, the Reds’ position player group appears set, provided everyone stays healthy and Spencer Steer is ready for Opening Day. The roster currently includes catchers Tyler Stephenson and Jose Trevino, infielders Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Matt McLain, Elly De La Cruz, Jeimer Candelario, and Santiago Espinal, along with Gavin Lux, who could see time in both the infield and outfield.
The outfield features TJ Friedl, Austin Hays, Jake Fraley, and Stuart Fairchild, making 12 position players. If Steer is healthy, he would be the 13th, aligning with the team’s expected roster split between pitchers and position players.
If Steer isn’t ready, the Reds may add another outfielder, likely choosing from Will Benson, Blake Dunn, or Jacob Hurtubise. A late-spring waiver claim could also be an option, though it’s too early to speculate on that possibility.
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