Fresh into the 2044 season, the future of Mets pitcher and eight-time all-star Jeremiah Bowens was in doubt. Absent from spring training and the first two weeks of the season, Bowens had a final year left on his contract worth $13 million. This comes after spending the majority of 2042 and 2043 on the disabled list and in Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas.
Today the Mets and Bowens held a press conference to put the questions to rest. Jeremiah Bowens officially announced his retirement from baseball at the age of 37. In doing so, he foregoes the final year of his deal. He cited a desire to spend more time with his family and his home in North Carolina.
Jeremiah exploded onto the scene as a fan favourite and charismatic pitcher. After a late call-up in 2030 and 2031 he earned a spot on the Mets opening day roster in 2032. In his first full year, he won his only Cy Young award winning an impressive 21 games. The Mets ended up losing the NL Championship that year after a bad performance by the young Bowens in the final game of the series.
Jeremiah did not let that disappointment stop him. Determined to avenge the performance he had an impressive 2033 and pitched absolutely lights out in the playoffs. Going a perfect 5-0 in the playoffs including winning both games 1 and 4 of the World Series, leading the Mets to their only World Title in the FCM Era.
Bowens spent the next decade as a leader on the field and in the locker room for the Mets making the all-star team eight times. He unfortunately had his 2042 season cut short due to a separated shoulder. He never fully recovered, spending 2042 and 2043 largely in the minors. In this time he accepted more of a player/coach role. Pitching for the fans of Las Vegas while also playing a large part in the development of prospects at the AAA-level.
General Manager and Owner Corey Sacrey had a lot of kind words to say about Jeremiah at the press conference. "I've been the general manager of this team for almost 34 years. In that time I have seen a lot of league greats come in and out of New York. I can tell you that Bowens is one of the best pitchers I have every seen. Jeremiah was part of the identity of this team for over a decade and was a Met from draft to retirement. He was a large portion of why we won the world series in 2032 and for that myself and the team will always be grateful for Jeremiah."
Also at the press conference, The Mets announced Jeremiah Bowens would
be inducted into the Mets Honour Roll and have his own appreciation
night on September 21 when the Mets take on rival Washington Nationals
at Shea Stadium. Bowens becomes the first player to be inducted into the
Mets Honour Roll since Brian Metcalf in 1932.
When asked what was next for Bowens, he said he wants to spend more time
with his family and relax from the wear and tear the baseball season has put on him. He did not
completely rule out a future in major league coaching, stating he
enjoyed his time in Las Vegas and would hope to return there in the
future as a coach with the team.
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