Fifteen Big Train Alumni in MLB Spring Training Camps

Matt Bowman, Austin Gauthier, and Carson Taylor Fight for Major League Jobs 

Three Big Train alumni are approaching major league spring training camps as non-roster invitees.

Matt Bowman (BT 2010-12) has quite a bit of big league experience already. He made his major league debut on April 6, 2016 with the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2017, he led the Cards’ staff in holds with 22. He remained with the Redbirds through the 2018 season. In 2019, he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2020 and didn’t pitch in pro ball again until 2023, when he appeared briefly for the New York Yankees. In 2024, he hurled for the Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Seattle Mariners. He finished the season with the Baltimore Orioles, going 1-0 with a 3.45 ERA in 15 games. 

The video at the following link highlights his prospects as an Oriole: Matt Bowman Nastiest K's of 2024  (Note: Scroll further down the article to find Bowman's Nastiest K's Video)

When Bowman was with Big Train, he was named the team’s Most Outstanding Pitcher in 2011. That was the year the team was named the National Champion of summer college baseball. As a starting pitcher, he went 5-2 with an 0.82 ERA that year.

Austin Gauthier (BT 2021) is a non-roster invitee to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ spring camp as a shortstop. He enjoyed the same status with the Dodgers last spring. He has not yet made his major league debut. When Gauthier was with Big Train, he played both short and second base. He hit .279 in 24 games, and was drawn into pro baseball by the Dodgers before the Ripken League season had been completed. He has been in the Dodgers’ system since 2021 and he reached the AAA level last year with Oklahoma City, batting .247 in 106 games. In four years of minor league ball, his batting average is .279 and he is a solid prospect to move up farther.

Carson Taylor (BT 2018) has not yet made his big league debut. He has been close, as he played in spring training games for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022 and Philadelphia Phillies in 2024. He has advanced farther in the Phillies’ system than any other Big Train alum, finishing last season with the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He smashed the ball for most of the 2024 season with the AA Reading Fightin’ Phils, finishing with a .277 batting average with 16 homers and 75 RBI. With Lehigh Valley, he hit .316 in six games. When Taylor was with Big Train, he hit .318 in 38 games and drove in 41 runs. He played at catcher and third base. He is primarily a first baseman now in pro ball, but he has played at third base and catcher as well. 

Other Big Train Alumni in Spring Camps 

As reported in last week’s newsletter, 12 Big Train alumni will be attending spring training camps as players on major league 40-man rosters. Those 12 are:

Hunter Brown, P  (BT 2018)  Houston Astros

Alec Burleson, OF  (BT 2018)  St. Louis Cardinals

Logan Driscoll, C  (BT 2017)  Tampa Bay Rays

J. P. France, P  (BT 2014)  Houston Astros

Logan Gilbert, P  (BT 2016)  Seattle Mariners

Chase Lee, P  (BT 2019)  Detroit Tigers

Brandon Lowe, 2B  (BT 2014)  Tampa Bay Rays

Joe Mantiply, P  (BT 2010)  Arizona Diamondbacks

James Outman, OF  (BT 2017)  Los Angeles Dodgers

Hunter Renfroe, OF  (BT 2011-12)  Kansas City Royals

Nolan Schanuel, 1B  (BT 2021)  Los Angeles Angels

Ken Waldichuk, P  (BT 2017)  Athletics

All of these players have our best wishes as they begin to compete in spring sessions for active roster positions on big league teams going into the 2025 season.