The 6-foot-3-inch, 215-pound Bowden was the 47th overall pick in the 2005 draft. In 19 starts for the Portland Sea Dogs last season, Bowden went 8-6 with a 4.28 ERA with 82 strikeouts to go with 33 walks. In Single A, the 20-year-old Bowden posted a 2-0 record and 1.37 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 2007. Baseball America listed Bowden as the No. 2 pitcher in the organization last season.