Ben Rowen

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Rowen was born on November 15, 1988, in Dunedin, Florida, to Michael and Darlene Rowen. His family moved to East Aurora, New York, where he resided between the ages of two and nine. Following this period, the family relocated to California, where Michael Rowen worked for Moog Inc.. During his youth, Rowen lived in various locations including Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

1.2. High School and College Baseball

Rowen attended Palos Verdes High School in Palos Verdes, California. As a freshman, he adopted the submarine pitching delivery, which became his signature style. After graduating from high school, he continued his baseball career at Los Angeles Harbor College for two years. He then transferred to Virginia Tech to play college baseball. In 2009, he participated in collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

2.1. Texas Rangers (2010-2014)

The Texas Rangers selected Rowen in the 22nd round (676th overall) of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the team on June 14, 2010. He made his professional debut that year with the Rookie-level Spokane Indians, where he appeared in 21 games, recording 2 wins, no losses, 1 save, a 1.09 ERA, and 30 strikeouts in 33 innings pitched.

In 2011, Rowen played for the Class A Hickory Crawdads, appearing in 33 games. He finished the season with 5 wins, 4 losses, 2 saves, a 1.98 ERA, and 43 strikeouts in 59 innings. In 2012, while pitching for the Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Rowen was named the MiLB Relief Pitcher of the Year. For the season, he had a 1.57 ERA, 19 saves, and 52 strikeouts in 57.1 innings across 38 appearances. That same year, he also participated in the Arizona Fall League, playing for the Surprise Saguaros.

Rowen was invited to the Rangers' spring training in 2013. He began the season with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders, where he made 31 appearances, accumulating 3 wins, no losses, 10 saves, a remarkable 0.53 ERA, and 28 strikeouts. In July, he was promoted to the Triple-A Round Rock Express, where he continued to impress with 3 wins, 1 loss, 3 saves, a 0.84 ERA, and 30 strikeouts over 20 appearances. To protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, the Rangers added him to their 40-man roster on November 20, 2013.

On February 26, 2014, Rowen agreed to a one-year contract with the Rangers. He was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on March 12 to start the season. Despite a rough start, he recorded 10 consecutive scoreless appearances. On June 11, 2014, he was called up to the major leagues for the first time following an injury to Tanner Scheppers. He made his MLB debut on June 15 against the Seattle Mariners, pitching a scoreless inning of relief. He made 8 appearances out of the bullpen for the Rangers, recording a 4.15 ERA and 7 strikeouts. On July 3, after surrendering 2 runs on 2 hits in 0.2 innings against the Baltimore Orioles, he was optioned back to Triple-A. He did not return to the majors that season. On December 16, 2014, the Rangers designated him for assignment, and he was released a few days later, on December 19.

2.2. Baltimore Orioles (2015)

On January 20, 2015, Rowen signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which included an invitation to spring training. He was initially assigned to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. However, before the minor league season commenced, on April 9, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles alongside minor league catcher Chris O'Brien in exchange for Ryan Webb, minor league catcher Brian Ward, and a competitive balance draft pick.

After joining the Orioles organization, he pitched in 16 games for the Double-A Bowie Baysox, achieving a 1.90 ERA. On May 29, he was promoted to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides. After 6 appearances with the Tides, he was demoted back to Bowie Baysox on June 21. He then opted out of his contract on July 1 and was released on July 5.

2.3. Chicago Cubs (2015)

Rowen signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on July 5, 2015. He played for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, where he made 8 appearances, recording 2 wins, no losses, a 0.00 ERA, and 7 strikeouts. On July 29, he was called up to the major league roster by the Cubs. However, he was designated for assignment just two days later on July 31, without making an appearance for the team.

2.4. Toronto Blue Jays (2015-2016)

On August 3, 2015, the Toronto Blue Jays claimed Rowen off waivers and assigned him to their Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons. With the Bisons, he made 14 appearances, recording 0 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, a 2.00 ERA, and 11 strikeouts.

He was invited to the Blue Jays' major league spring training in 2016 but was optioned to minor league camp on March 13 to start the season with the Buffalo Bisons. On August 1, 2016, Rowen was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays.

2.5. Milwaukee Brewers (2016)

Rowen was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers on August 4, 2016. He made 4 appearances for Milwaukee, where he struggled, surrendering 6 runs (5 earned) on 10 hits across 3 innings, resulting in a 15.00 ERA and 2 strikeouts. On November 7, he was removed from the 40-man roster and outrighted to the Triple-A Colorado Springs SkySox. He subsequently rejected the assignment and elected free agency on November 8.

2.6. New York Mets (2016-2017)

On December 15, 2016, Rowen signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization, which included an invitation to spring training in 2017. He spent the entire 2017 season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s (now the Las Vegas Aviators). In 54 bullpen appearances, he recorded 3 wins, 3 losses, a 4.41 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched. Rowen elected free agency on November 6, 2017, following the season.

2.7. Cincinnati Reds (2018)

On January 19, 2018, Rowen signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, receiving an invitation to spring training. He played for the Triple-A Louisville Bats during the season but was released by the organization on May 9, 2018.

2.8. Independent League (2018)

After his release from the Reds, Rowen signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league, on June 3, 2018. He appeared in 15 games, finishing with 3 wins, 1 loss, a 4.50 ERA, and 13 strikeouts.

2.9. Atlanta Braves (2019)

On January 18, 2019, Rowen signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, receiving an invitation to spring training. He played for both the Double-A Mississippi Braves and Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers within the Braves organization. Across both teams, he made 40 appearances (including 7 starts), accumulating 5 wins, 3 losses, 1 save, a 3.61 ERA, and 65 strikeouts. On July 19, he pitched in the Triple-A All-Star Game. Rowen did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.

2.10. Los Angeles Angels (2020-2021)

On December 14, 2020, Rowen signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels, which included an invitation to their 2021 spring training. On April 12, 2021, Rowen was selected to the Angels' active roster. He made his Angels debut on the same day against the Kansas City Royals, pitching 1 shutout inning, marking his first major league appearance since 2016. After allowing 8 runs in 11.1 innings pitched (with 12 hits, 3 earned runs, 2 walks, and 8 strikeouts, resulting in a 5.56 ERA), Rowen was designated for assignment on May 5. On May 8, after clearing waivers, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. Rowen elected free agency on October 14, 2021 (reported October 15).

6.1. Major League Statistics

6.2. Minor League Statistics

While a comprehensive minor league statistics table is not provided, various performance details for Ben Rowen's minor league career are available throughout his professional journey.

• 2010 (Spokane Indians):** 2 wins, 0 losses, 1 save, 1.09 ERA, 30 strikeouts in 33 innings.
• 2011 (Hickory Crawdads):** 5 wins, 4 losses, 2 saves, 1.98 ERA, 43 strikeouts in 59 innings.
• 2012 (Myrtle Beach Pelicans):** 5 wins, 0 losses, 19 saves, 1.57 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 57.1 innings.
• 2013 (Frisco RoughRiders & Round Rock Express):**
  • Frisco: 3 wins, 0 losses, 10 saves, 0.53 ERA, 28 strikeouts in 31 appearances.
  • Round Rock: 3 wins, 1 loss, 3 saves, 0.84 ERA, 30 strikeouts in 20 appearances.
• 2014 (Round Rock Express):** After demotion from MLB, pitched in 18 games for Triple-A Round Rock.
• 2015 (Bowie Baysox, Norfolk Tides & Iowa Cubs):**
  • Bowie Baysox: 1.90 ERA in 16 appearances.
  • Norfolk Tides: 6 appearances.
  • Iowa Cubs: 2 wins, 0 losses, 0.00 ERA, 7 strikeouts in 8 appearances.
• 2015 (Buffalo Bisons):** 0 wins, 1 loss, 1 save, 2.00 ERA, 11 strikeouts in 14 appearances.
• 2017 (Las Vegas 51s):** 3 wins, 3 losses, 4.41 ERA, 52 strikeouts in 63.1 innings over 54 appearances.
• 2018 (Louisville Bats):** Played for Triple-A Louisville before release.
• 2018 (Sugar Land Skeeters):** 3 wins, 1 loss, 4.50 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 15 appearances.
• 2019 (Mississippi Braves & Gwinnett Stripers):** 5 wins, 3 losses, 1 save, 3.61 ERA, 65 strikeouts in 40 combined appearances (7 starts).
• 2021 (Salt Lake Bees):** Outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake Bees after being designated for assignment.