Jackson Alexander Kowar Bio
Jackson Alexander Kowar is an American professional baseball pitcher who has played in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners. Born on October 4, 1996, in Weddington, North Carolina, Kowar developed into a standout pitcher during his high school years at Charlotte Christian School before becoming a key contributor at the University of Florida, where he helped the Gators capture the 2017 national championship. The Kansas City Royals selected Kowar with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, and he made his major league debut in 2021. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024, Kowar returned to action with the Seattle Mariners in 2025. He is married to Caroline Kowar.
Early Life and Background
Jackson Alexander Kowar was born and raised in Weddington, North Carolina. He attended Charlotte Christian School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he became a pitcher on the high school baseball team during his sophomore year, initially serving as the team’s closer. During his senior season, Kowar posted an exceptional 10-1 win-loss record with a 0.20 earned run average and 118 strikeouts in 71 innings pitched. His outstanding performance caught the attention of professional scouts.
Kowar was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 40th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft but did not sign with the organization, choosing instead to pursue his college career. He originally committed to play baseball at Clemson University as a high school sophomore but was granted his release following a coaching change at the program. Kowar instead chose to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Florida, where he would become a key member of the Gators baseball program.
Path to Professional Baseball
Upon arriving at the University of Florida, Kowar immediately made an impact during his freshman year in 2016. He appeared in 12 games for the Gators, recording a 3-0 record with a 3.37 earned run average and 44 strikeouts in 34 and two-thirds innings pitched. His promising season was cut short in May due to a collapsed lung, but he recovered and returned stronger the following year. In 2017, Kowar went 12-1, tying Florida’s best single-season record in school history, while posting a 4.08 earned run average with 84 strikeouts in 19 appearances.
The crowning achievement of Kowar’s college career came during the 2017 College World Series. He earned the save in the championship game, pitching one and two-thirds scoreless innings in his only relief appearance of the season, which clinched Florida’s national title. During his junior year in 2018, Kowar was named to the All-Southeastern Conference second team after compiling a 10-5 record with a 3.04 earned run average in 18 starts. He was roommates with future Royals teammate Brady Singer throughout their time at Florida, and the two would eventually be drafted by the same organization.
Jackson Alexander Kowar Career
Minor League Development (2018-2020)
The Kansas City Royals selected Jackson Alexander Kowar with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and signed him for $2.1 million. He made his professional debut that July with the Lexington Legends of the Single-A South Atlantic League. In nine starts with the Legends, Kowar went 0-1 with a 3.42 earned run average. He began the 2019 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks of the High-A Carolina League, where he was named an All-Star. After posting a 5-3 record with a 3.53 earned run average in 13 starts, he earned a promotion to the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double-A Texas League in June, where he finished the season with a 2-7 record, 3.51 earned run average, and 78 strikeouts in 74 and one-third innings pitched over 13 starts.
Kowar did not play in a game during 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He remained with the organization and trained at the team’s alternate site during the abbreviated MLB season, continuing to develop his craft while waiting for the opportunity to advance to the major leagues.
Kansas City Royals (2021-2023)
Kowar began the 2021 season with the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple-A East League, where he dominated opposing hitters. In six starts to begin the year, he posted a 5-0 record with a remarkable 0.85 earned run average and 41 strikeouts in 31 and one-third innings pitched. On June 6, 2021, the Royals announced Kowar would be promoted to the major leagues to serve as a starting pitcher, and he officially joined the active roster on June 7.
His MLB debut came against the Los Angeles Angels, though it proved to be a challenging introduction to the majors. Kowar gave up four earned runs, allowed three hits, walked two batters, and threw three wild pitches before being removed from the game in the first inning after recording only two outs. In 9 appearances (8 starts) during his rookie campaign, he struggled to a 0-6 record and 11.27 earned run average with 29 strikeouts in 30 and one-third innings pitched. Despite his difficult first season, Kowar received the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award from the Royals, which honors the franchise’s best minor league pitcher.
During 2022, Kowar continued to work on his game but experienced struggles at both the Triple-A and MLB levels. He started 20 games for the Storm Chasers, posting a 4-10 record with a 6.16 earned run average and 88 strikeouts in 83 and one-third innings. With the Royals, he made 7 relief appearances, recording a 9.77 earned run average with 17 strikeouts in 15 and two-thirds innings. In 2023, Kowar was called up to the Royals four times and stayed with the team after being recalled on August 17. In 23 relief appearances for Kansas City, he posted a 6.43 earned run average with 29 strikeouts across 28 innings of work.
Seattle Mariners (2025-Present)
On November 17, 2023, the Royals traded Kowar to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for pitcher Kyle Wright. Just weeks later, on December 3, he was traded again, this time with Cole Phillips by Atlanta to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Jarred Kelenic, Marco Gonzales, and Evan White. The trade gave Kowar a fresh opportunity with a new organization as he looked to establish himself at the major league level.
On March 10, 2024, the Mariners announced that Kowar had suffered a tear in his right ulnar collateral ligament, requiring Tommy John surgery and ending his season. The injury placement marked the first time Kowar had been placed on the injured list during his professional career. He worked through his rehabilitation and recovery throughout the remainder of 2024, determined to return to competition.
Kowar was placed on the 60-day injured list prior to the start of the 2025 season and made rehabilitation appearances for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Mariners. On May 28, 2025, Kowar was activated from the injured list and returned to major league action. In 15 appearances for Seattle during the 2025 season, he posted a 2-0 record with a 4.24 earned run average and 15 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. His recovery from Tommy John surgery proved successful, and he demonstrated the ability to contribute at the major league level.
Pitching Style and Strengths
Kowar features a four-seam fastball as his primary pitch, complemented by a curveball and changeup. His collegiate success at Florida demonstrated his ability to work as both a starter and reliever, showing versatility in different roles. Throughout his minor league career, he showed the capacity to miss bats and generate strikeouts, though his transition to the major leagues has presented adjustments. His professional career has seen him develop his repertoire while working with various pitching coaches and coordinators to refine his approach against major league hitters.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several significant moments define Kowar’s career trajectory. Winning the 2017 College World Series championship as a member of the Florida Gators provided him with a championship pedigree early in his baseball journey. Being selected 33rd overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and signing for $2.1 million represented a significant investment by the Royals in his potential. Despite a difficult rookie MLB season, earning the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award highlighted his Minor League accomplishments. His recovery from Tommy John surgery and successful return to MLB action in 2025 marked a major milestone in his career resilience.
Jackson Alexander Kowar Career Highlights
Throughout his professional career, Kowar has accumulated experience across multiple levels of Minor League Baseball and parts of five MLB seasons with three different organizations. His Minor League career includes successful stints in the Single-A South Atlantic League, High-A Carolina League, Double-A Texas League, and Triple-A East League, where he earned All-Star recognition at Wilmington in 2019. His most recent MLB performance with Seattle in 2025 showed positive results as he worked his way back from injury.
Major League Baseball Statistics
Across his MLB career through the 2025 season, Kowar has appeared in 54 games (15 starts) with a combined 4-6 win-loss record, 8.21 earned run average, and 90 strikeouts. His rookie season with Kansas City in 2021 presented significant challenges as he adjusted to major league competition, but he demonstrated improved performance during his 2025 campaign with Seattle following his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
College and Minor League Achievements
Kowar’s amateur career at the University of Florida produced exceptional results, including a 25-1 combined record over his sophomore and junior seasons. He was part of Florida’s 2017 national championship team and earned SEC All-Conference second-team honors in 2018. His Minor League career included a 5-0 start at Triple-A Omaha in 2021 that earned his promotion to the majors, along with being named a Carolina League All-Star in 2019.
| Competition Level | Wins | Losses | ERA | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB (through 2025) | 4 | 6 | 8.21 | 90 |
| Minor Leagues (career) | 23 | 22 | 3.86 | 332 |
Jackson Alexander Kowar Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Jackson Alexander Kowar comes from a baseball family with professional ties to the sport. His father, Frank Kowar, was a minor league pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 1990, providing Jackson with early exposure to professional baseball and a foundation of knowledge about the game from a young age. This family connection to baseball undoubtedly influenced his development as a pitcher and his eventual path to professional baseball.
Personal Life
Kowar married Caroline Kowar (née Kerns) in 2024. The couple’s relationship has been part of his public life as he continues his professional baseball career. His support system includes family connections to the sport through his father and the camaraderie of fellow players, including his college roommate and former Royals teammate Brady Singer. Kowar continues to pursue his baseball career while building his life with his wife.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a significant chapter in Kowar’s career as he returned from Tommy John surgery that had ended his 2024 campaign before it began. He began the season on the 60-day injured list while completing his rehabilitation with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers and rookie-level Arizona Complex League Mariners. His hard work paid off when he was activated from the injured list on May 28, 2025, marking his return to major league competition after a lengthy recovery process.
Upon joining the Seattle Mariners active roster, Kowar appeared in 15 games during the 2025 season. He demonstrated his resilience by posting a 2-0 record with a 4.24 earned run average and 15 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. His performance showed that he had successfully returned from the injury and regained his ability to compete at the major league level. The positive results provided encouragement for his continued development with the organization as he worked to establish himself as a reliable member of the pitching staff.
The outlook for Kowar remains focused on continued improvement and contribution to his team. His ability to return from Tommy John surgery and perform effectively at the MLB level demonstrated his determination and work ethic. With each appearance, he gained additional experience and confidence, positioning himself for future opportunities to impact games at the highest level of professional baseball.