Micah Owings
Encyclopedia
Micah Burton Owings is a Major League Baseball
right-handed pitcher
currently pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
Owings finished the 2007 season with a memorable performance in his home state, a shutout
, and an impressive batting record, which earned him the 2007 Silver Slugger Award for excellence at the plate.
record with 69, fourth in the nation only to Drew Henson
, Jeff Clement
, and James Peterson. As a sophomore, he hit
.630 with 21 homers; as a senior he hit .448 with 25 home runs while going 12-1 on the mound with a 1.03 ERA
, 121 strikeout
s, and 3 walks
in 75 innings. Owings played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Forsyth Central High School in Cumming
and transferred to Gainesville High School as a junior.
Owings played college baseball at Georgia Tech
in and before transferring to Tulane University
in New Orleans
. He led the Tulane Green Wave to a number one national ranking for most of the season with the team finishing its play in the College World Series (2005).
He was selected by the Colorado Rockies
in the 2nd round (50th overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign with them. He was selected again in 2003 in the 19th round (576th overall) by the Chicago Cubs
and again chose not to sign. In , he was selected in the third round by the Arizona Diamondbacks (83rd overall).
After signing with Arizona, he was assigned to the Single-A Lancaster JetHawks
. He pitched in 16 games out of the bullpen
, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. In , he played in Double-A and Triple-A for the Tennessee Smokies
and the Tucson Sidewinders
, respectively. He made 12 starts
for the Smokies and went 6-2 with a 2.88 ERA. His stats in Triple-A were impressive, in which he went 10-0 with a respectable 3.75 ERA in 15 starts.
, Dana Eveland
, Dustin Nippert
, and Yusmeiro Petit
. 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. Originally brought up to fill a starter spot while Randy Johnson
recovered from back surgery, management was very impressed by his performances. On July 26, Owings hit his first Major League home run against Byung-Hyun Kim
of the Florida Marlins
.
Owings was having an uneventful season in the major leagues in 2007 until he faced the Atlanta Braves
on August 18, 2007. He pitched 7.0 innings, allowing three hits and three earned run
s, striking out seven. His batting performance made it a career night. Owings went 4 for 5, including two home runs, scoring four times with six RBI. He is the first pitcher with four hits, four runs and six RBI
in the same game. The last pitcher in the Major Leagues to record four hits and four runs was Danny Jackson
in . Owings' 11 total bases are the most by a pitcher in the last 50 seasons. The last Arizona player to have four hits, two homers, four runs and six RBI was Shea Hillenbrand
in . He was the first Diamondbacks pitcher to have 2 home runs in one game. The Diamondbacks would later win, 12-6.
Following two particularly poor outings in early September 2007, Owings pitched his first Major League shutout on September 18, 2007, allowing only two hits against the San Francisco Giants
.
Later in 2007, on September 27, Owings made an emergency start in place of Brandon Webb
and pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball, while going 4-for-4 at the plate with three doubles
and three RBI. He became the first pitcher since Whitey Ford
to have two 4-hit games in one season. His batting average of .333 for the 2007 season ranks fourth best for pitchers with more than 50 ABs (20 hits in 60 at bats) since , the beginning of the designated hitter
era (in the American League
).
On December 5, 2007, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported that the Diamondbacks were considering playing Owings at first base during the days that he was not pitching, in an effort to get his potent bat into the lineup on a more regular basis.
On April 30, , Owings had a pinch-hit
2-run home run against the Houston Astros
. It was the first pinch homer by a pitcher in the majors in more than four years. Brooks Kieschnick
of the Milwaukee Brewers
had last done it against Matt Mantei
of the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 22, .
On June 4, 2008, manager Bob Melvin
inserted Owings 8th in the batting order
at Milwaukee. The Diamondbacks lost 10-1 to Milwaukee.
On August 11, 2008, the Cincinnati Reds traded left fielder
Adam Dunn
to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dallas Buck
and two players to be named, who were later revealed as Wilkin Castillo
on August 14 and Owings on September 12.
On Wednesday, July 21, 2010, the Reds optioned Owings to the Triple-A Louisville Bats
.
On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, the Reds designated Owings for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Yasmani Grandal
, the Reds' 2010 first round draft pick, whom they signed to a Major League contract. 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, 2010, the Reds announced that Owings had cleared waivers and had accepted an outright assignment to the Triple-A Louisville Bats
.
Owings signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, and he would try out at first base, along with his normal starting pitcher role. Micah Owings was recalled from the Triple-A Reno Aces
May 21, 2011 to take the roster spot opened by the release of Russell Branyan
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
right-handed pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
currently pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Owings finished the 2007 season with a memorable performance in his home state, a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
, and an impressive batting record, which earned him the 2007 Silver Slugger Award for excellence at the plate.
Early life and career
Owings holds Georgia's high school home runHome run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
record with 69, fourth in the nation only to Drew Henson
Drew Henson
Drew Daniel Henson is a retired Major League Baseball third baseman and National Football League quarterback. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
, Jeff Clement
Jeff Clement
Jeffrey Burton Clement is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. Clement was the Seattle Mariners' first round draft pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.-Amateur career:Clement was born and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa...
, and James Peterson. As a sophomore, he hit
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.630 with 21 homers; as a senior he hit .448 with 25 home runs while going 12-1 on the mound with a 1.03 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, 121 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and 3 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
in 75 innings. Owings played his freshman and sophomore seasons at Forsyth Central High School in Cumming
Cumming, Georgia
Cumming is a city in Forsyth County, Georgia, United States. The population was 5,430 at the 2010 census. However, places with a Cumming mailing address have a population of around 100,000...
and transferred to Gainesville High School as a junior.
Owings played college baseball at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball team represents the Georgia Institute of Technology in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Georgia Tech athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference...
in and before transferring to Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He led the Tulane Green Wave to a number one national ranking for most of the season with the team finishing its play in the College World Series (2005).
He was selected by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in the 2nd round (50th overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
, but did not sign with them. He was selected again in 2003 in the 19th round (576th overall) by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and again chose not to sign. In , he was selected in the third round by the Arizona Diamondbacks (83rd overall).
After signing with Arizona, he was assigned to the Single-A Lancaster JetHawks
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team is named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and plays its home games at Clear Channel Stadium...
. He pitched in 16 games out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, going 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA. In , he played in Double-A and Triple-A for the Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
and the Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
, respectively. He made 12 starts
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the Smokies and went 6-2 with a 2.88 ERA. His stats in Triple-A were impressive, in which he went 10-0 with a respectable 3.75 ERA in 15 starts.
Major league career
Owings was a long shot to make the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster in 2007, but was ultimately named the fifth starter over Enrique GonzálezEnrique González
Enrique César González is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher.-Playing career:González made his first start against the Cincinnati Reds on May 28, 2006, pitching six innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks and giving up only one run...
, Dana Eveland
Dana Eveland
Dana James Eveland is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers.Eveland throws a four-seam fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball. He is 6' 1" and weighs 230 pounds....
, Dustin Nippert
Dustin Nippert
Dustin David Nippert is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball...
, and Yusmeiro Petit
Yusmeiro Petit
Yusmeiro Alberto Petit is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball relief pitcher in the Seattle Mariners organization. Petit throws right-handed. He was signed by New York Mets as non-drafted free agent on November 15,...
. Owings made his major league debut on April 6, 2007, against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He pitched five shutout innings, allowing only one hit, and striking out six. Originally brought up to fill a starter spot while Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
recovered from back surgery, management was very impressed by his performances. On July 26, Owings hit his first Major League home run against Byung-Hyun Kim
Byung-Hyun Kim
Byung-Hyun Kim is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is best known for his years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox. In 2001, Kim took over mid-season as the Diamondbacks' closer and saved 19...
of the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
Owings was having an uneventful season in the major leagues in 2007 until he faced the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
on August 18, 2007. He pitched 7.0 innings, allowing three hits and three earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s, striking out seven. His batting performance made it a career night. Owings went 4 for 5, including two home runs, scoring four times with six RBI. He is the first pitcher with four hits, four runs and six RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
in the same game. The last pitcher in the Major Leagues to record four hits and four runs was Danny Jackson
Danny Jackson
Danny Lynn Jackson was a pitcher with a 15-year career from to . He played for the Kansas City Royals of the American League and the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, St...
in . Owings' 11 total bases are the most by a pitcher in the last 50 seasons. The last Arizona player to have four hits, two homers, four runs and six RBI was Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
in . He was the first Diamondbacks pitcher to have 2 home runs in one game. The Diamondbacks would later win, 12-6.
Following two particularly poor outings in early September 2007, Owings pitched his first Major League shutout on September 18, 2007, allowing only two hits against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Later in 2007, on September 27, Owings made an emergency start in place of Brandon Webb
Brandon Webb
Brandon Tyler Webb is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner.-High school:Webb attended Paul G...
and pitched 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball, while going 4-for-4 at the plate with three doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
and three RBI. He became the first pitcher since Whitey Ford
Whitey Ford
Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who spent his entire 18-year career with the New York Yankees. He was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.-Early life and career:...
to have two 4-hit games in one season. His batting average of .333 for the 2007 season ranks fourth best for pitchers with more than 50 ABs (20 hits in 60 at bats) since , the beginning of the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
era (in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
).
On December 5, 2007, the Arizona Republic newspaper reported that the Diamondbacks were considering playing Owings at first base during the days that he was not pitching, in an effort to get his potent bat into the lineup on a more regular basis.
On April 30, , Owings had a pinch-hit
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
2-run home run against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. It was the first pinch homer by a pitcher in the majors in more than four years. Brooks Kieschnick
Brooks Kieschnick
Michael Brooks Kieschnick is a former Major League Baseball player. He was primarily a relief pitcher and left-handed pinch hitter...
of the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
had last done it against Matt Mantei
Matt Mantei
Matthew Bruce Mantei [MAN-tie] is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. In his career, Mantei played with the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed.-Career:...
of the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 22, .
On June 4, 2008, manager Bob Melvin
Bob Melvin
Robert Paul Melvin is the manager of the Oakland Athletics, and a former Major League Baseball catcher.During a 10-year playing career, he played from 1985–94 for seven different teams...
inserted Owings 8th in the batting order
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
at Milwaukee. The Diamondbacks lost 10-1 to Milwaukee.
On August 11, 2008, the Cincinnati Reds traded left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Adam Dunn
Adam Dunn
Adam Troy Dunn , nicknamed "Big Donkey", is an American Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Chicago White Sox. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dallas Buck
Dallas Buck
Dallas Buck is a Minor League Baseball player and former All-American baseball pitcher who played for the Oregon State Beavers of Oregon State University in college...
and two players to be named, who were later revealed as Wilkin Castillo
Wilkin Castillo
Wilkin Castillo is a Major League Baseball utility player.-Professional career:Castillo was originally signed as an undrafted free agent in by the Arizona Diamondbacks....
on August 14 and Owings on September 12.
On Wednesday, July 21, 2010, the Reds optioned Owings to the Triple-A Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
.
On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, the Reds designated Owings for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Yasmani Grandal
Yasmani Grandal
Yasmani Grandal is a baseball catcher in the Cincinnati Reds organization. He is currently on the 40-man roster....
, the Reds' 2010 first round draft pick, whom they signed to a Major League contract. Reds GM Walt Jocketty
Walt Jocketty
Walt Jocketty is the General Manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he attended the University of Minnesota where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was previously the General Manager of the St...
stated that Owings had requested a trade "to another club that would have a better future for him". On August 26, 2010, the Reds announced that Owings had cleared waivers and had accepted an outright assignment to the Triple-A Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
.
Owings signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2011, and he would try out at first base, along with his normal starting pitcher role. Micah Owings was recalled from the Triple-A Reno Aces
Reno Aces
The Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
May 21, 2011 to take the roster spot opened by the release of Russell Branyan
Russell Branyan
Russell Oles Branyan is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He throws right-handed, bats left-handed, and primarily plays first base, but is capable of playing third base and the outfield. Branyan began his professional career in the Cleveland Indians minor league system...
.