Welcome to our series step by step of each member of the San Diego Padres 40-man roster. The number of evaluations is being done before Oct. 18. before the end of the World Series. Because of this, it includes players who have concluded the free agent period. Each player will step up in their actions during the 2026 season, including the playoffs. That performance will be weighted on how much time the player has spent with the team (availability is the best option).
A Glove-First Outfielder
After the Pirates were drafted around 11 by Pittsburgh in 2013, Jase Bowen flashed a potential final season in the Pirates system. In 2025 he slashed .272/.353/.449 across four levels of the minor leagues. Most importantly, Bowen hit .294 with an .870 OPS in 36 games for Triple-A Indianapolis. In November of ’25, Bowen was selected as a free agent and signed by San Diego. He posted a .292/.362/.600 hitting line in 49 games with Triple-A El Paso before being called up to make his MLB debut.
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Overall grade: C
To that end, Ortelius struggled. He never quite found a groove at the plate in the big leagues. Bowen repeatedly looked overwhelmed against big league pitching, hitting an anemic .146 with a .438 OPS. The force is all but nowhere. Bowen had hit four home runs in 49 games with El Paso, but had just two in 83 contests at the big-league level.
Some of that use for defensive storage. Bowen is really only late in games, often not starting. Of the 83 games that Bowen played, he started less than a quarter. The team boasts a phenomenal, posting +2 Fielding Run Value and +1 Outs Above Average in such a small sample (283.0 INN). But his glove is not enough to keep him in the number.
Bowen has a powerful bat, but needs time to catch up. Starting the season in Triple-A to get more pitching time against the big leagues could help him mature enough against the big leaguers. Or, if he shows improvement in his Cactus League play, Bowen could make his way onto the Opening Day roster. That said, Bowen needs to improve, or he won’t last long on this squad in the crop pile.