Jackson Kowar

Jackson Alexander Kowar (born October 4, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Kansas City Royals organization.

Jackson Kowar
Kansas City Royals
Pitcher
Born: (1996-10-04) October 4, 1996
Weddington, North Carolina
Bats: Right Throws: Right

Early life

Kowar was born and raised in Weddington, North Carolina. His father, Frank Kowar, was a minor league player in the Toronto Blue Jays organization.[1] Kowar graduated from Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina.[2]

College career

He originally signed to play college baseball for Clemson University as a sophomore, but was granted his release following a coaching change.[3] As a senior, he compiled a 10-1 record and 0.20 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 71 innings. He was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 40th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft,[4] but he did not sign and instead enrolled at the University of Florida.

As a freshman in 2016, Kowar appeared in 12 games, pitching to a 3-0 record and 3.37 ERA with 44 strikeouts in ​34 2⁄3 innings pitched. His season was ended in May as he was sidelined due to a medical condition not related to baseball.[5][6] 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 (18 starts).[7] During the 2017 College World Series, Kowar earned the save in the championship game, pitching ​1 2⁄3 scoreless innings, clinching Florida's 2017 national title.[8] In 2018, as a junior, Kowar was named to the All-SEC Second Team.[9] He finished his junior year with a 10-5 record and a 3.04 ERA in 18 starts.[10]

Professional career

The Kansas City Royals selected Kowar with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft,[11] and he signed for $2,147,500.[12] He made his professional debut with the Lexington Legends.[13] In nine starts, he went 0-1 with a 3.42 ERA.[14]

Kowar began 2019 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks,[15] with whom he was named a Carolina League All-Star.[16] After pitching to a 5-3 record with a 3.53 ERA in 13 starts, he was promoted to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals,[17] with whom he finished the year. Over 13 starts with the Naturals, Kowar went 2-7 with a 3.51 ERA, striking out 78 over ​74 1⁄3 innings.

References
  1. "A Florida Baseball Father's Support Never Stops". ESPN 98.1 FM - 850 AM WRUF. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2020-12-16.
  2. "Charlotte Christian's Jackson Kowar proves his dominance". The Charlotte Observer. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  3. "Improbable journey to title for Kowar". wcnc.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  4. "Pitcher Jackson Kowar Looks Ahead to 2017 Florida Baseball". Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  5. "Medical condition sidelines UF pitcher". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  6. "Florida Gators baseball copes with injuries ahead of Gainesville Regional". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  7. "Brady Singer, Jackson Kowar carry weight of MLB draft projections and Gators' own lofty expectations into season". ajc.com. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  8. "Gutty decision to go to Kowar helped save CWS win". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  9. "Shewmake, Helman make cut as 2018 SEC Baseball Awards Announced". kbtx.com. Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  10. https://www.foxsports.com/kansas-city/story/kansas-city-royals-sign-33rd-overall-pick-jackson-kowar-070218
  11. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-florida/article212281429.html
  12. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article214240794.html
  13. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article214871730.html
  14. "Jackson Kowar Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  15. https://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article228822374.html
  16. https://www.milb.com/wilmington/news/six-blue-rocks-named-carolina-league-all-stars/c-307963660
  17. https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/royals-jackson-kowar-moves-up-to-double-a/
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