Bowie pitched well in relief for the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate New Orleans Zephyrs, and in July was called up to the majors. He was effective as a set-up man in 15 relief appearances, posting an ERA of 1.37 before going on the disabled list and eventually missing the rest of the season.
2007
In, he was re-signed by the Nationals and started the season as a regular set-up reliever. By mid-May he had appeared in 20 games with an ERA of 3.71, but then was pressed into service as a starter, after four of five Nationals starters went on the disabled list. On May 20, Bowie made his first Major League start since 1999, pitching 3-1/3 innings allowing two runs in a no decision. By June 17, Bowie had proved himself to be the Nationals' most consistent starter, going 4-0 with a 3.82 ERA in six starts. However, he was placed on the disabled list on July 2 with a hip injury. Bowie was outrighted to the minor leagues on October 17, 2007. He refused the assignment and became a free agent.
On December 21, 2007, the Colorado Rockies signed Bowie to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He made the team's opening day roster as a member of the bullpen. Bowie was outrighted to the minor leagues by the Rockies on June 26, but refused his assignment and became a free agent.
On July 3,, Bowie signed a minor league contract with the Houston Astros. He was released by the Astros in mid-August.
Post-retirement
Since retiring in 2008, Bowie has operated a baseball academy.
Personal life
Bowie married Keeley Kolacek in 1995, between games of a Durham Bulls doubleheader; they have two children. Bowie developed back problems during his playing career and rather than undergo disk fusion surgery that might need to be repeated, elected in August 2016 to have a spinal-cord stimulator implanted to suppress pain. The device failed after about one month; the battery migrated, damaging his liver, diaphragm and one lung. After continuing breathing problems, the Mayo Clinic found his lungs had electrical burns; in May 2019 the device was removed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, by the same doctor who had repaired his groin injury in 2007. He has 8% of his former lung capacity. Bowie was 20 days short of the four years on the roster required for the Major League Baseball Players Association to automatically grant a disability claim, but the MLB Baseball Assistance Team and the Oakland A'sCommunity Fund assisted him and his family with the resulting medical bills.
