Interesting Seattle Mariners Bullpen Arm Jackson Kowar Working His Way Back
The Seattle Mariners have worked throughout the offseason to retool their bullpen in preparation for 2025.
The Mariners traded for several relievers and signed others to minor league deals. And more pitchers will be returning from injury. Gregory Santos is fully healthy after missing most of 2024 with different ailments. Barring setbacks, Matt Brash will be back in April after being held out last year with Tommy John surgery.
Brash isn't the only Seattle reliever working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
Jackson Kowar was acquired by the Mariners in a trade with the Atlanta Braves on Dec. 3, 2023, but tore his right UCL in spring training.
The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish shared video on "X" (formerly known as Twitter) of Kowar throwing a bullpen at this year's camp and working his way back from his surgery.
Jackson Kowar back on the mound after Tommy John surgery pic.twitter.com/d4mZ7Jf1pT
— Ryan Divish (@RyanDivish) February 17, 2025
In Kowar's last healthy season in 2023 with the Kansas City Royals, he had a 6.43 ERA with 29 strikeouts in 28 innings pitched. For his career, he has a 9.12 ERA in 39 outings (eight starts) and fanned 75 batters in 74 innings pitched.
Seattle's major league bullpen will look slightly different than it did in 2024. Brash and Santos being back in the fold gives the team options in high leverage situations and raises the floor of the group as a whole.
Kowar hasn't had major league success the same way Brash and Santos had before their respective injuries. But the Mariners got career-best seasons from Austin Voth and Kowar's old bullpen-mate Collin Snider in 2024.
Kowar likely won't be ready to return when the season begins. But he'll be ready to go at some point in 2025. And it will be interesting to see how he looks when he first takes the mound for Seattle.
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