Nov. 20, 2007

Bowker, who collected 11 hits in 18 games as a member of the 2002 Pilots, becomes the 3rd former player to make a Major League roster.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- 2002 right fielder John Bowker (Long Beach State) has parlayed a breakout season in the AA Eastern League, 22 homeruns and 90 RBI for the Connecticut Defenders, into a spot on the San Francisco Giants 40-man roster.  When the Giants purchased his contract from the AA Defenders, Bowker immediately became a candidate to assume the left fielder's job vacated by home run king* Barry Bonds.  Under a cloud of controversy, Bonds was not offered arbitration by the Giants, effectively ending his 15-year run as the starter in left. 

Bowker will be invited to Major League spring training and thrust into an open competition for the starter's job with Rajai Davis, Dave Roberts, Fred Lewis, Nate Sheirholtz and whomever else the Giants invite to camp.  The 'worst-case-scenario' for Bowker appears to be starting left fielder for AAA Fresno.

He becomes the third former Peninsula Pilot to make his way onto a Major League 40-man roster, following RHP Josh Rupe (Texas Rangers - '01 Pilots) and 3B Ryan Zimmerman (Washington Nationals - '03 Pilots).  In 2002, Bowker fought through an injury plagued season as a part-time right fielder in Hampton collecting 11 hits in 55 at-bats following his freshman season at Long Beach State University.