Phillies Top 30 Prospects No. 29: Cody Bowker’s Swing-and-Miss Stuff

This is the second in a series of stories breaking down the Philadelphia Phillies’ Top 30 prospects heading into 2026.

The Phillies selected Cody Bowker in the third round of the 2025 MLB Entry Draft, a 6-foot-1 right-handed pitcher who set a career high in innings at Vanderbilt during his junior season. Bowker spent the first two seasons of his college career at Georgetown — where he spent time attempting to remain as a two-way player — but transitioned to the SEC with little trouble.

While he posted a career high ERA (a still-respectable 4.38), Bowker picked up 99 strikeouts in 72 innings: for big league scouts, that swing-and-miss potential matters much more than the raw numbers. Bowker reported to the Phillies’ Florida Coast League affiliate in August but didn’t pitch the rest of the season.

He throws from a low arm slot, close to sidearm, something that helped him throw off batters with his fastball despite its sitting in the low-90s. Bowker also throws a cutter, a slider and a changeup, the type of pitch variance one expects out of a starter. Despite that upside, Bowker’s workload to this point in his career projects best as a bullpen arm.

Once he makes his professional debut, the way the Phillies manage his innings will give a better idea of the role they want to develop him for. Bowker still has upside as a project — he started 29 games in the outfield as a true freshman and didn’t fully give it up until his arrival in Nashville — and possesses sleeper potential as he continues to develop as a pitcher. That might delay his ETA beyond what one expects for a college arm, but it makes Bowker a player to watch.