Illinois RHP Riley Gowens battles through adversity to return to mound
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (BVM) 鈥� Sports are an amazing look at the human psyche, and they bring about some of the highest highs, and the lowest lows. No one is more familiar with these feelings than Riley Gowens. The 6-foot-3 right–handed pitcher for the Fighting Illini baseball team has gone through many obstacles to get where he wants to be in terms of success, both for his team, and himself.
Gowens is from Libertyville, Illinois, and from a young age he was involved in many different sports.聽
鈥淚 started playing tee-ball at the normal age everyone played,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 actually grew up liking basketball a little bit more. When you鈥檙e playing basketball, you鈥檙e non-stop doing something.鈥澛�
For Gowens, the love for baseball was one that took time. However, once it clicked, he never looked back.
鈥淚n baseball, you have to be patient, you have to appreciate the game,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 think it took me a little bit to really appreciate the game, because I grew up with a passion for basketball.鈥�
Once Gowens grew older and began his high school career at Libertyville, his love for baseball grew even more.聽
鈥淢y senior year of high school, I ended up hanging up the basketball shoes,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚n that winter before my senior season, I had committed to Illinois previously, so I decided to solely focus on baseball.鈥澛�
This would be a monumental decision for Gowens’ future. If he had doubts, he never showed it.聽
鈥淲ith that, I saw some of the most progression I had ever had in my career up to that point in terms of development over that offseason,鈥� Gowens continued. 鈥淚 realized it was the best decision, and every offseason since then I鈥檝e just gradually gotten better and better.鈥�
Gowens鈥� senior season for the Libertyville Wildcats was an amazing one. He posted a 9-1 record with a 0.30 ERA. He also had a career-high 16 strikeouts while only giving up one hit after pitching 6 鈪� innings against Lake Forest. Even when everything is going right for Gowens, he doesn鈥檛 let the pressure of success affect him.
鈥淚 would say I was really calm,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 also wasn鈥檛 even really thinking about any of those stats or anything. When the season ends and you put that all into perspective, it鈥檚 really cool to look at, but during the season it鈥檚 not really something that you鈥檙e thinking about. You鈥檙e just thinking about hopefully winning a state championship for the town you鈥檝e played for for the last 18 years.鈥�
Unfortunately for Gowens, the start of his career at Illinois would be one filled with multiple obstacles. After undergoing Tommy John surgery and looking to make a comeback in the 2020 season, the coronavirus pandemic was underway. This would halt Gowens鈥� return even more, and he wouldn鈥檛 take the mound again until the 2021 season, over two years after his original injury.聽
鈥淥h my gosh, it felt like I had no chance of ever playing baseball again, and it felt like the world was ending, just the worst feeling in the world,鈥� Gowens said.
For Gowens, this was the ultimate test of his strength and tenacity, and this time spent recovering would provide him with time to reflect, and come back better than ever.聽
“It was a battle, but it made me tough,” Gowens said. “I learned a lot about myself and I learned a lot about the game. I would say the biggest thing I learned was to not take the game for granted.
“I鈥檓 lucky to have not had an injury since then, but if I do have an injury, it won鈥檛 matter as I haven鈥檛 taken any pitch since getting Tommy John for granted. Every single time I鈥檓 playing catch, there鈥檚 emphasis on certain things, and if I get injured again, I know from what I learned from the Tommy John process, I will be able to put together those positive things towards the next process and recovery.”
During his time in quarantine, Gowens had a lot to mull over, and he used his time wisely so he could get back to the game he had played for so long. That desire for success would help put him in the right space mentally to continue his recovery process during some unprecedented times.聽
鈥淚 was only throwing around 85 or 86 mph max, a lot of guys who get Tommy John have their velocity spike at some point,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 had to go home for those six months in the quarantine period and I got into really good shape, I took care of myself, focused on nutrition and my sleep. Over those six months, I was able to get back to 93 or 94 mph, and I was able to come back and put myself in a position to be one of the guys they looked at to start.鈥澛�
Gowens鈥� recovery time also taught him a lot about his routine and himself. During this time, he would pick up and start more healthy habits that would put him in the best shape possible for baseball.
鈥淒rinking a ton of water, keeping your body hydrated, going through proper warmups when you play catch, going through proper arm care when you鈥檙e done playing catch to work those muscles and help them recover,鈥� Gowens continued. 鈥淭here was a lot I learned about my body that I was able to put together over those six months of quarantine to build good habits that I鈥檝e kept since then and have put me on an ascending path as a baseball player.鈥澛�
When Gowens returned to the mound for Illinois, it was a memory he鈥檒l remember for the rest of his career. All of the work he had put in over the last two years had led up to this moment.
鈥淚 remember the first start, it was the second game of the year my junior year and it was against Ohio State,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 struck out the first guy and then loaded the bases on eight more pitches. After giving up a few runs I was able to settle in, but it all hit so fast.鈥�
Gowens would end up being a great weapon for Illinois鈥� arsenal with strong performances throughout the season. One special moment for the team would be when Gowens and company combined for a no-hitter against Purdue on April 25, 2021, earning the pitcher Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week honors.聽
饾悘饾悑饾悁饾悩饾悇饾悜 饾悗饾悈 饾悡饾悋饾悇 饾悥饾悇饾悇饾悐 receives a national honor after throwing seven innings in Illinois' combined no-hitter.
馃摪 禄
— Illinois Baseball (@IlliniBaseball)
Even when things aren鈥檛 necessarily going Gowens鈥� way on the mound, he doesn鈥檛 let it set him back. Rather, he uses every moment as an opportunity to get better for the future.聽
鈥淵ou have to be able to move on to the next one, that鈥檚 what our pitching coach always says and it鈥檚 something I always try and follow,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淏asically, your job as a starter is to keep the game in hand to give your hitters an opportunity to blow it open and win it for you. So, if a homerun happens, you need to be able to reset and get the next three guys out.鈥澛�
While the Fighting Illini did well in their 2022 season with an overall record of 31-22 鈥� going 17-7 against other Big Ten teams 鈥� the campaign ended with a loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament, a game in which Gowens started. Gowens went five innings, striking out five and only giving up one run. However, despite the loss, Gowens uses it as motivation.聽
鈥淚 remember exactly what it felt like,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 remember the feeling when I kind of realized there was nothing we could do, our season was done. Those are the moments that stick in the back of your head for the next seven months while you鈥檙e training for opening day.鈥澛�
Currently, Gowens is expanding his name into the , playing summer ball for the . In his first start on June 15, Gowens pitched three innings, giving up three hits and striking out four against the Trenton Thunder.
Riley Gowens strikes out three of the four batters he faces in the top of the 1st. Not a bad way to start your debut.
— Williamsport Crosscutters (@crosscutters)
Playing for the Crosscutters will allow Gowens to add hype to his name in hopes for an eventual MLB career. Despite being in a new environment, he loves the new experience.
鈥淚t is absolutely awesome, it鈥檚 some of the most organic fun I鈥檝e had in forever,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淲e have a lot of guys on our team that are from other countries, so I鈥檝e gotten to know a lot of guys that have a lot of different backgrounds. I think that鈥檚 one of the coolest parts of the game.鈥澛�
Using this opportunity will help improve Gowens鈥� chances of hearing his name called at the MLB Draft. Given what he鈥檚 gone through the last three years to even get back to the mound, he鈥檚 got plenty to show those who will be scouting his skills. With his array of pitches, such as a 94 mph fastball, an 81 mph changeup, and a 76-78 mph curveball, combined with Gowens鈥� proven history of dominance on the mound for Illinois, he should be a draft candidate in the near future.聽
While Gowens is using this as an opportunity for a pro career one day, he doesn鈥檛 forget those outside of the game. He鈥檚 done charity work before, specifically for Feed My Starving Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to getting meals to children in underdeveloped nations.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a great hobby, that鈥檚 a great thing to do on the side, and I鈥檝e been doing it for about 10 to 15 years,鈥� Gowens said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 really fun, and it鈥檚 for a really good cause.鈥澛�
For Gowens, there is no one more familiar with the highs and lows of sports. The last few years of his career have been filled with doubt, fatigue and uncertainty. Despite these lows, he鈥檚 expanded his entire game to ensure he can give his teams the best possible version of himself. His tenacity, strength and determination are the reasons he鈥檚 had his current run of success, and with those skills, he looks forward to any challenges that will come his way.
