The Bowker Effect
A 9-21 start gave the Tribe the International League's worst record as the second week of May approached. The Indians appeared to be destined for a season at the bottom of the International West division.
"The first week of the season, we were just getting eaten up," Indians Hitting Coach Jeff Branson said.
In steps John Bowker.
Since the veteran outfielder was sent from the Pittsburgh Pirates to Indianapolis on May 8, the Indians have been on a tear, rattling off a 27-16 record to get to within a game of .500. According to Branson, Bowker filled a gaping hole in the middle of the order.
"He's definitely added a power bat to our lineup," Branson said. "That was the one thing we were really missing in our lineup was a No. 4 hitter. We needed a guy that could drive the ball consistently, which he does."
But Bowker's role as the veteran clean-up hitter was not always so clearly cut out.
Bowker began his winning ways at Long Beach State, where he played alongside MLB All-Stars Troy Tulowitzki and Jered Weaver. Bowker led the 49ers to an NCAA Super Regional appearance as a sophomore in 2004. Following his sophomore season, Bowker was a third round draft pick of the San Francisco Giants.
The Sacramento, Calif. native figured to be part of the Giants' rebuilding plans after the retirement of Barry Bonds. After slugging his way through the minor league ranks, Bowker was promoted from Triple-A Fresno to San Francisco on April 12 to make his first Major League start.
Bowker didn't waste any time adjusting.
Not only did Bowker blast a homerun in his debut, he went yard again the following day. Bowker was the first player in franchise history to homer in his first two games. In the first season of the post-Bonds era, Bowker was giving Giants' fans a reason to forget about the all-time homerun leader.
Unfortunately for Bowker, his power surge in San Francisco was short-lived. Bowker went on to hit 10 homeruns in 111 games in 2008. Despite getting regular at-bats as a 24-year old, Bowker failed to latch on as a consistent starter in San Francisco.
Though Bowker was not swinging a consistent bat in the majors, he quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the minors. Bowker hit .342 with 21 HR's and 83 RBI for Fresno in the Pacific Coast League, earning MiLB.com's Triple-A Best Hitter of the Year in 2009.
A season tearing up the PCL earned Bowker a starting spot in San Francisco's 2010 opening day lineup. But Bowker continued to struggle at the Major League level and was dealt along with RHP Joe Martinez at the trade deadline to Pittsburgh for RHP Javier Lopez.
Similarly to his time with the Giants, Bowker fluctuated between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis in 2010. By opening day 2011, Bowker was back in the majors with the Pirates. But a logjam in the Pirates corner outfield spots meant that Bowker was again the odd man out.
Bowker was designated for assignment by Pittsburgh on April 27 and cleared waivers to join Indianapolis on May 4.
Once again, Bowker wasted little time adjusting.
With Bowker in the middle of the order, the Indians won six of their next eight games. The once rising prospect quickly became the veteran cleanup hitter that the Indians lacked in the first month of the season. His teammates felt an immediate change when he got to Indianapolis.
"When he came in he set the bar high by coming in and getting a bunch of hits and driving in runs," Indians infielder Matt Hague said. "Having a guy that's been at the major league level and that's succeeding down here gave us a leadership role."
Besides providing an instant impact on the field, Bowker has also played a crucial role in the clubhouse for the Tribe. At 27, Bowker is considered one of the grizzled veterans on the Indians' roster, which he admits was unfamiliar for him.
"It's weird coming in here and being considered the older guy because I've never really been in that type of role," Bowker said. "But I've just tried to go about my business the right way and hopefully some of it rubs off on these guys because there's a lot of talent in that locker room."
Bowker's professional career has been full of ups and downs along the way. But Branson believes that it his consistent mindset that has matriculated to some of the younger hitters.
"It's about the work ethic that he's showing these other guys," Branson said. "He's showing these other guys that whether you're going good or going bad, you stay the same."
The workmanlike attitude has paid dividends in the clutch for the Tribe. Bowker is fourth in the IL in RBI since he got to Indianapolis and is hitting .345 with runners in scoring position.
Clutch RBI's and a veteran presence has quickly turned around a rough start. After only winning one series without Bowker, the Tribe hasn't lost a series with him on the roster.
"He's a professional," Branson said. "He goes about his work the right way. He has a desire to get better. He knows that he can't afford to take a day off because that phone call could come at any moment again."
He's had an undeniable impact in a young locker room that needed leadership. He's helped ride a last-place ship back into contention. Bowker's instant impact coupled with the maturation of an inexperienced ballclub gave the Indians new life when they needed it most.
"If you just go about your business one day at a time working hard, you can look back at a season if you go about it the right way and usually things fall into place," Bowker said.
Like the final piece to the puzzle, Bowker fell right into place.