Player Profile - Micah Owings
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Born September 28, 1982 in Gainesville, GA, Micah Owings is a RHP and occasional pinch-hitter who has pitched for the Diamondbacks, Reds, and Padres.
His impressive high school numbers (he still holds Georgia’s high school home run record), led him to play baseball at Georgia Tech in 2003-04, before transferring to Tulane University in 2005.
In 2005, he was selected in the third round by the Diamondbacks (83rd overall).
After signing with Arizona, Owings put up impressive numbers while working his way through their farm system. His stats in Triple-A were very good, where he went 10–0 with a 3.75 ERA in 15 starts.
He was added to the Diamondbacks’ rotation in 2007, originally only to fill in for Randy Johnson who was recovering from back surgery. Owings made his major league debut on April 6, 2007, against the Washington Nationals. He pitched five shutout innings, allowing only one hit, and striking out six. On July 26, Owings hit his first Major League home run. In fact, Owings’ 2007 season was far more notable for his offense than his pitching. He became the first pitcher since Whitey Ford to have two 4-hit games in one season. Owings won a Silver Slugger Award in 2007 after hitting .333 with four homers and 15 RBI in 60 at-bats. His batting average of .333 ranked fourth best for pitchers since 1973. His offensive was so strong that it was rumored the Diamondbacks were considering starting Owings at first base in-between starts during the 2008 season.
In 2008, Owings went 6-9 with a 5.93 ERA. On August 11, Owings and two other players were traded to the Reds in exchange for Adam Dunn.
In 26 starts for the Reds in 2009, Owings went 7-12 with a 5.34 ERA. On July 4th of that year, Owings became the first MLB pitcher in 50 years to celebrate the holiday with a home run and a W in a 5-2 win over the Cardinals.
After an unimpressive beginning to 2010, Owings was sent down to AAA on July 21st. On August 17, the Reds designated Owings for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Yasmani Grandal. Reds GM Walt Jocketty stated that Owings had requested a trade "to another club that would have a better future for him.” On August 26, the Reds announced that Owings had cleared waivers and had accepted an outright assignment to Louisville.
In 2011, Owings was again signed to a minor league deal to the Diamondbacks. He was called up in May of that year, and put up fairly good numbers. However, he was non-tendered by the Diamondbacks in December.
Owings signed a one-year $1 million contract with the Padres for the 2012 season. He started the season as a relief pitcher, but he was on the disabled list since April 26 with a right forearm strain. After not expecting to pitch again that season, Owings intended to become a "position player/pitcher. However, those plans were put on hold after he underwent season-ending surgery on his right elbow.
On October 23, Owings was released by the Padres. He would've been a non-tender candidate, being in his third year of arbitration eligibility.
In 2013, he signed a minor league contract with the Nationals, but was released by them on July 1st.
Owings is currently a free agent.
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
You know its probably not good that you remember a pitcher more for their hitting than for their pitching.
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
I remember during the lost decade when we'd get a player like Owings and, due to our inexperience with actual above average talent, we'd pray that said player would become that one in a million player who becomes good by miracle. Claussen, Dave Williams, Luke Hudson, Elizardo, etc etc.
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Larry Schuler
I remember during the lost decade when we'd get a player like Owings and, due to our inexperience with actual above average talent, we'd pray that said player would become that one in a million player who becomes good by miracle. Claussen, Dave Williams, Luke Hudson, Elizardo, etc etc.
Dontrelle Willis....Saarloos....Daryl Thompson.....Maloney....or when Bobby Livingston was going to become Jamie Moyer in a Reds uni...
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
I think the teams that carry these 2 way players -never really got the full value out of what they were attempting to do - they never pushed the players abilities to the max -often times having them focus on one thing but not the other, thus not using them in the way that would bring about max benefit. in an extra inning game -having a 2 way player would appear to be a pretty big advantage.
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
He played outfield for Syracuse last year.
Re: Player Profile - Micah Owings
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Cooper
I think the teams that carry these 2 way players -never really got the full value out of what they were attempting to do - they never pushed the players abilities to the max -often times having them focus on one thing but not the other, thus not using them in the way that would bring about max benefit. in an extra inning game -having a 2 way player would appear to be a pretty big advantage.
Could be.
Problem with guys like Owings is if they are not good enough to be a starter, you have to be careful how you used them as a reliever. Do you use them to pinch hit and then come in and pitch? Do you just use them to pinch hit and lose them for the rest of the game? Do you just use them to pitch? Then the question is when do you use them? Early? Late? Extra innings? Blowouts? They are also difficult to judge. Are they a good hitter period or just a good hitter for a pitcher? Someone like that is ideally best used as a starter so he can come off the bench if needed the other days.