Michael Bowden (baseball)
Michael Matthew Bowden is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Saitama Seibu Lions, and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears. He attended high school at Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois. He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2005 [Major League Baseball draft|2005 MLB draft].
Career
Boston Red Sox
Bowden began his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox in, and advanced to the Greenville Drive the following season, also playing one game with the Wilmington Blue Rocks.Bowden began the season with the Sea Dogs and was promoted to the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, on July 18, 2008. On August 30, Bowden made his first major league start against the Chicago White Sox. He received the decision in a five-inning start, giving up seven hits and two runs in an 8–2 win. On April 26,, Bowden was called up to bolster the bullpen after a night where the Red Sox bullpen got overworked. He later worked two perfect innings against the New York Yankees.
Bowden was recalled July 18, 2010 after spending the beginning of the season in Pawtucket. After three relief appearances, he was optioned back five days later to make room for Josh Beckett, who was coming off the disabled list. On August 14, 2010, Bowden was once again recalled, and then optioned back on August 28 to make room for Hideki Okajima.
In, Bowden began the season with Pawtucket, for whom he pitched in 14 games with a 1.59 ERA. He was recalled to the Red Sox on May 17 when Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an elbow injury. Bowden was recalled on August 27, to replace Scott Atchison. On April 15, 2012, Bowden was designated for assignment.
Chicago Cubs
On April 21, 2012, Bowden was traded to the Chicago Cubs along with a player to be named later for Marlon Byrd. On April 14, 2013, Bowden, along with Edwin Jackson, broke the record for most wild pitches in an inning, with 5. He was designated for assignment on May 21, 2013. He returned to the Cubs when his contract was selected on July 11, 2013. He was designated for assignment again on September 4, 2013, and became a free agent on October 1.Saitama Seibu Lions
Bowden signed a contract with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2014 season. He developed a split-finger fastball while playing for the Seibu Lions.File:Michael Bowden, 2015 Triple-A All-Star Game.jpg|250px|thumb|Bowden, during his tenure with the Norfolk Tides, at Triple-A All-Star Game