Bowling was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round of the 1974 MLB Draft, and made his debut with the club on September 7, 1976, as he went 3 for 3 with a double, and RBI and a run scored in the Brewers 17-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians. He recorded his first career hit off pitcher Don Hood. Bowling finished the season with a .167 batting average with 0 HR and 2 RBI in 14 games. On November 5, Bowling was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 1976 MLB expansion draft.
