Rudy Owens
From BR Bullpen
Rudy C. Owens
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 3", Weight 225 lb.
- School Chandler Gilbert Community College
- High School Mesa High School
- Born December 18, 1987 in Mesa, AZ USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Rudy Owens was the top South Atlantic League pitcher of 2009.
The Pittsburgh Pirates took Owens as a draft-and-follow in the 28th round of the 2006 amateur draft after being scouted by Ted Williams. After a year of junior college, Pittsburgh signed him. They sent him to the 2007 GCL Pirates, for whom he was 1-4 with a 5.32 ERA. In 2008, Rudy had a 3-6, 4.97 record for the State College Spikes.
Then came 2009, when Owens dominated for the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. He went 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA, 15 walks in 100 2/3 IP and a .197 opponent average. He was promoted to the 2009 Lynchburg Hillcats late in the year and had a 1-1, 3.86 record in six starts there. He then went 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA in the Carolina League playoffs with a shutout of the Wilmington Blue Rocks. He led Pirate farmhands in ERA (2.10), strikeouts (113) and opponent average (.219). He tied Brett Lorin for the 5th-best ERA of any minor leaguer, behind Brad Meyers, Travis Wood, Madison Bumgarner and Brian Matusz. He would have easily led the South Atlantic ERA in ERA had he qualified. He was named the league's All-Star left-handed pitcher and Most Outstanding Pitcher. Baseball America rated him with the best changeup and best control in the circuit and the #9 Pirates prospect. They also rated him as the #11 prospect in the SAL, right ahead of West Virginia catcher Tony Sanchez. MILB.com named him the Class A Starting Pitcher of the Year.
Owens began 2010 with the Altoona Curve. In his AA debut, he faced Stephen Strasburg in one of the most-hyped minor league debuts in several years. He allowed Strasburg's first career pro hit; neither pitcher had a great day nor factored in the decision, as Altoona fell to the Harrisburg Senators.
[edit] Sources
- 2008-2010 Baseball Almanacs
- 2010 Pirates Media Guide
- MILB.com
