Former Catcher Karson Bowen Signs with Texas Rangers
Florida baseball catcher Karson Bowen didn’t hear his name called during the 2026 MLB Draft but still found his way to the pros, signing a free agent contract with the Texas Rangers Monday.
He will start his professional career in Surprise, Arizona, as a member of the rookie-level ACL Rangers of the Arizona Complex League. Bowen followed right-handed pitcher Nick Pogue’s path, becoming the first Florida player since 2022 to sign a UDFA, which doesn’t count against an organization’s signing bonus if the player signs for below $150,000.
Bowen spent his lone season at Florida as the team’s primary catcher, starting 55 games but 47 behind the plate. He established his offensive power during the season’s closing stretch, delivering his first-career multi-homer game against Oklahoma May 3, helping secure the series victory.
He contributed to Florida’s program-record seven home runs, blasting another pair of homers during their 22-10 win over Miami at the 2026 NCAA Gainesville Regional on May 30, bringing his season total to seven while recording a season-high five RBI and four runs.
At the plate, Bowen notched 55 hits, 41 runs, 33 RBIs, 11 doubles and 28 walks. Known for his defensive ability, he improved to a .994 fielding percentage across 545 chances at Florida, caught 11 runners stealing, and proved his eye for the ball at the 2026 SEC Tournament, going a tournament-best 9-for-10 on Automated Ball-Strike challenges during the system’s collegiate debut.
During his three seasons at Texas Christian University, Bowen maintained a .990 fielding percentage across 1,261 defensive chances. He left the Big 12 following his junior season with TCU ranked as Baseball America’s No. 79 impact transfer, logging 110 runs, 112 RBIs, 16 home runs, 20 steals, 33 doubles and a .308 batting average across his three-year tenure, including a career-high 76 hits in 2023.
Bowen became the sixth Gator to sign in the offseason, while No. 19 pitcher Liam Peterson and No. 110 outfielder Kevin Roberts Jr., a 2026 signee, have yet to ink their entry-level contracts.
With Bowen heading to the pros, transfers Jon Embury and Eddie Marshall will look to compete to replace him as the starting catcher for this upcoming season.
Category: Gator Sports, Gators Baseball
