LH grad Bowers playing winter ball in Venezuela
Baseball fans may have viewed the final game of the World Series as the official end to the 2003 season. Not so for Laurel Highlands graduate Jason Bowers.
Bowers, who spent the year with the Class AAA Memphis Redbirds of the St. Louis Cardinals organization, has signed on to play with the Tigres De Aragua of the Venezualan Winter League.
“Their GM, Enrique Brito, just called my yesterday,” the 25-year-old infielder. “They wanted to know if I wanted to play, and then they had to call and get my rights from the Cardinals, who wanted me to play winter ball anyhow.
“My agent played a part in getting me hooked up to get there. He was concerned about a few things, like playing time down there, and also safety issues. But this is a good opportunity for me. It’s a good, competitive league, one of the more dominant leagues, according to what I’ve heard.”
Bowers hit .246 with 15 doubles, a team-high seven triples, and seven homers with 34 RBIs for the Redbirds, and played in the Triple-A All-Star Game. He went 0 for 1 with a walk in that game and started a perfect double play that even caught the attention of Buck Martinez, one of the announcers doing the game for ESPS2.
“It was fun. I learned a lot,” Bowers said of his first season at Class AAA, one step below the major leagues. “I got to play with a lot of older guys, veteran guys, guys who played in the big leagues. I went through some tough times, but it was a good learning experience.”
Bowers played in 117 games with Memphis and displayed his versatility and toughness. He played 89 games at shortstop, 18 at second base and nine at third base. He got hit by a pitch a team-high eight times, was second in sacrifice bunts (8), third in runs scored (42), and fourth in stolen bases (7), hits (102) and games played. He struck out 69 times and drew 24 walks.
After the Redbirds’ season ended with a 64-79 record, Bowers went back home and waited to see what offseason plans would develop.
“It was definitely cool being at home for a while,” said Bowers, who left for Venezuela to join the team on Friday. “Their season goes to Dec. 30 and then the playoffs start after that. I’ll probably play short or second there, I’m sure.”
Bowers hopes to play well and get noticed in Venezuela.
“I want to go down there, do well, and, hopefully, open up some eyes,” said Bowers, who expects to be invited to spring training with the Cardinals for a second consecutive year in 2004. “If I go to Venezuela and put up some good numbers and play some good defense, it can only help my cause, and I’ll get some more experience.
“I’m going to try to make the Cardinals club in spring training, which is my goal every year. My roommate (infielder Bo Hart) got called up this season, so you never know what might happen.”
It’s happened before.
Pitcher Jason Simontacchi played two seasons in Venezuela for the same team Bowers is with, and he wound up on the Cardinals’ 2003 roster.
“My ultimate goal is to play in the big leagues some day,” Bowers said.
“I think playing winter ball at a place like Venezuela can only help me.”