One would assume that after being traded by the Twins on May 2 that Matt Bowman was more than a little surprised to find himself in a Saints uniform over Fourth of July weekend.

Not so, the veteran reliever said on Saturday prior to the Saints’ 4-1 loss to the Gwinnett Stripers at CHS Field.

“I really enjoyed my time here,” Bowman said, “and when they jettisoned me, they made it clear that they’d love to have me back. So it was always in the back of my mind. I left my car here, I left a bunch of my stuff here.

“So somewhere in my mind I knew maybe I would come back.”

The 33-year-old Bowman has pitched for six major league teams since breaking in with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2016. The Twins signed him to a minor league contract in January and he began the season with the Saints.

He was called up by the Twins on April 13 and made five appearances before being designated for assignment on April 30. Bowman was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks, only to be designated for assignment again three weeks later. After clearing waivers, he declined joining Arizona’s Triple-A team and became a free agent.

Bowman signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on June 4 and was called up to the majors five days later. Two days after that, he was designated for assignment once again and opted for free agency.

This time, however, he elected to sign a new minor league deal with the Mariners. On July 1, he elected to use his opt-out clause and became a free agent.

“Definitely different,” Bowman said of the past couple eventful months. “Different obstacles than I’ve experienced before. But after the first time switching, going to the Diamondbacks, and realizing what it’s like switching organizations in midseason, I felt like, OK, I understand this.”

While it’s true that Bowman has been living out of a suitcase, he said that’s not unusual for him.

“Mostly, it’s so many names to learn,” he said. “I let like I was playing catch-up coming to the Twins — I always like to know everyone’s names and be respectful that way. Eventually I had to give up and give every organization 10-12 names, and that’s all I’ve got.”

Bowman said he is happy to be back in the Twins organization.

“You go through spring training and you sort of learn the ways of an organization,” he said. “You try to tailor yourself to do that. And I felt there was synergy between the way I wanted to pitch and the way the Twins like people to pitch.

“I feel comfortable with their process.”

Bowman missed 2021 and 2022 seasons following Tommy John surgery, so a case can be made that he is a “young” 33, with a lot left to offer.

“I’ve never been a hard thrower,” he said, “but in terms of how my stuff is moving and how hard I’m throwing and how comfortable I’m feeling, I’m old for this game, but I don’t feel old.”

And with two months remaining in the major league season, the possibility remains that Bowman could again wear a Twins uniform in 2024.

“I think it’s the same as before,” Bowman said. “As they see a need, as you perform well, as you plug in to the bullpen up there. In addition to liking the process they have for pitchers here, they did call me up very quickly at the start of the season.

“So there is that aspect of trust.”

Briefly

The Saints managed only two hits in Saturday’s loss, their only run coming on four walks in the first inning. … Jordan Balazovic, once one of the top pitching prospects in the Twins organization, is no longer with Saints after he signed with Doosan of the KBO League.