High Cheese

Phillies release Bowker

News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.

42 comments

Phillies release Bowker

POSTED: Tuesday, January 10, 2012, 3:43 PM

Daily News staff

The Phillies have released outfielder John Bowker (right) so he can pursue an opportunity in Japan. (Michael Bryant/Staff Photographer)

The Phillies have released outfielder John Bowker to allow him to pursue an opportunity with a team in Japan, the club announced.

In a combined 31 major league games between the Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates last season, Bowker, 28, batted .133 with two RBI.

He spent the majority of the 2011 season at Triple A Indianapolis in the Pirates minor league system, where he hit .306 with 15 home runs and 76 RBI in 106 games.

With the transaction, the Phillies now have 39 players on the 40-man roster.

Bowker reportedly has been in talks with the Yomiuri Giants, the same team that signed pitcher Scott Mathieson earlier this offseason.

Bowker was hitless in 13 at-bats with the Phillies, with seven strikeouts.

42 comments

Previous Story: Evaluating the Phillies' offseason

Next Story: What to expect from Vance Worley?

Comments (42)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:49 PM, 01/10/2012

WHO?

— DONDEN31

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:49 PM, 01/10/2012

Bowker was awesome

— BRIANMC

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:55 PM, 01/10/2012

Nooooooooooo

— hey buddy

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:00 PM, 01/10/2012

What do I do with my jersey?

— FABER

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:02 PM, 01/10/2012

Bowker gone ... that's it ... i'm done ...

— ingy9

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:07 PM, 01/10/2012

I wonder who will become #40?

— Randy Dobin

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:10 PM, 01/10/2012

seriously I hope Phils sign Madson ,, on a one year deal ,, lock down the 8th and 9th ...

— ingy9

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:16 PM, 01/10/2012

Coulda been the left fielder to replace Raul.

— mikemaddog

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:20 PM, 01/10/2012

There goes the pennant.

— Fast Eddy

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:25 PM, 01/10/2012

Good photo, capturing The Bowker-man's #1 contribution to the Phils last year: he DIDN'T run over Utley on this play, and therefore DIDN'T re-injure Chase's knee and sideline him the rest of the year. Good job, Bowkerman! Don't eat any cooked fish over there in Japan!

— wmichael

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:26 PM, 01/10/2012

That .133 average might have to travel farther than Japan to find the "opportunity" it's best suited for. I'm thinking about, say, the Pyongoyang Parakeets, perennial powerhouse of the North Korean Independent League.

— Dave Clemens