| Jackson Kowar | |
| Team: | Seattle Mariners |
| Number: | 37 |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 4 October 1996 |
| Birth Place: | Weddington, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 7 |
| Debutyear: | 2021 |
| Debutteam: | Kansas City Royals |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Statyear: | 2023 season |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 2–6 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 9.12 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 75 |
| Teams: | |
Jackson Alexander Kowar (born October 4, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals.
Kowar was born and raised in Weddington, North Carolina. He attended Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina.[1] As a senior, he compiled a 10–1 win–loss record and 0.20 earned run average (ERA) with 118 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 40th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign with the Tigers.[2] [3]
Kowar committed to play college baseball for Clemson University as a high school sophomore but was granted his release following a coaching change.[4] He instead chose to attend the University of Florida.[5] As a freshman in 2016 for the Gators, Kowar appeared in 12 games, pitching to a 3–0 record and 3.37 ERA with 44 strikeouts in innings pitched. His season ended in May due to a collapsed lung.[6] [7] He returned in 2017 and went 12–1, tying Florida's best single-season record in school history, along with posting a 4.08 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 19 games.[8] During the 2017 College World Series, Kowar earned the save in the championship game, pitching scoreless innings in his only relief appearance on the season, clinching Florida's 2017 national title.[9] In 2018, as a junior, Kowar was named to the All-SEC second team.[10] He finished his junior year with a 10–5 record and a 3.04 ERA in 18 starts.[11]
Kowar was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed for $2.1 million.[12] He made his professional debut that summer with the Lexington Legends of the Single-A South Atlantic League.[13] In nine starts, he went 0–1 with a 3.42 ERA.[14] Kowar began 2019 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High–A Carolina League, with whom he was named an All-Star.[15] After pitching to a 5–3 record with a 3.53 ERA in 13 starts, he was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League in June,[16] where he finished the year. Over 13 starts with the Naturals, he went 2–7 with a 3.51 ERA, striking out 78 over innings.[17]
Kowar did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] He was selected to the team's alternate site for training during the abbreviated MLB season.[19] Kowar began the 2021 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A East League.[20] In six games to begin the year, Kowar logged a 5–0 record and 0.85 ERA with 41 strikeouts in innings of work.[21] On June 6, 2021, the Royals announced Kowar would be promoted to the major leagues to be the starting pitcher the following day against the Los Angeles Angels.[22] He was officially selected to the active roster on June 7.[23] In his debut, Kowar gave up four earned runs, allowed three hits, walked two batters, and threw three wild pitches before he was removed from the game in the first inning, getting only two outs.[24] In 9 appearances (8 starts) during his rookie campaign, Kowar posted a ghastly 0–6 record and 11.27 ERA with 29 strikeouts in innings pitched. He received the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award from the Royals, given to the franchise's best minor league pitcher.[25]
In 2022, Kowar struggled in both Omaha and Kansas City. Starting 20 games for the Storm Chasers, he worked to a 4–10 record and 6.16 ERA with 88 strikeouts in innings pitched. He limped to a 9.77 ERA with 17 strikeouts in innings of work across 7 relief appearances for the Royals.
Kowar began the 2023 season in Omaha and was called up to the Royals four times, sticking with the team after being recalled on August 17.[26] [27] In 23 appearances relief for Kansas City, Kowar struggled to a 6.43 ERA with 29 strikeouts across 28 innings of work.
On November 17, 2023, Kowar was traded to the Atlanta Braves for Kyle Wright.[28] On December 3, he was traded with Cole Phillips by Atlanta to the Seattle Mariners for Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, and Evan White.[29] On March 10, 2024, the Mariners announced Kowar had a tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery and ending his season during spring training.[30] It was Kowar's first time on the injured list.
Kowar's father, Frank Kowar, was a minor league pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 1990.[31] [32]