Education
Bowen attended Homestead High School in Fort Wayne. His senior year (1999), he earned All-State honors and was named the Indiana State Player of the Year by Gatorade and United States of America Today.
During spring training 2006, he was placed on waivers by the Twins, and selected by the Detroit Tigers.
Later the same Spring, he was again placed on waivers, and was this time claimed by the San Diego Padres.
On June 20, 2007, the Chicago Cubs acquired Bowen and minor league outfielder Kyler Burke from the Padres in exchange for catcher Michael Barrett.
Bowen was designated for assignment by Chicago and traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for fellow catcher Jason Kendall on July 16 of that year. He was released by the Oakland Athletics on March 17, 2009.