The Diamondbacks have claimed left-hander Henry Owens off waivers from the Red Sox, reports Alex Speier of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reported that Owens was on outright waivers earlier this week.
The move will reunite Owens, 25, with Arizona general manager Mike Hazen, who was in the Red Sox organization (along with assistant GMs Amiel Sawdaye and Jared Porter) when Boston originally made Owens the 36th overall pick in the 2011 draft.
Owens was once considered to be one of the game’s best overall prospects. However, he’s managed just a 5.19 ERA with 7.5 K/9 against 4.7 BB/9 in 85 big league innings and saw his control of the strike zone, which has long been an issue for him, utterly evaporate in 2017 when he walked 115 batters, hit 17 more and threw 17 wild pitches in 126 Triple-A innings this season.
Owens has a minor league option remaining, so the Diamondbacks will have the luxury of being able to send him to the minors to attempt to get back on track if they wish, though the Triple-A Pacific Coast League isn’t exactly a friendly environment for a pitcher looking to refine his mechanics and reestablish his confidence.
they now have a headliner for a trade for Chris sale
Sarcasm?
It obviously was.
And so it begins,…
Wishing him the best! Met him a few years ago at a Sox event! Nice guy. I hope he finds his groove in the desert
Good riddance.. And the diamondbacks have themselves a top tier rubber arm.. Good luck with that.
Given his control troubles, the hitter-friendly conditions in the PCL, and Haden’s history with Owens, coukd Owens be convinced it would be best for him to go down to AA for a half season to see if he can get on track down there?
He was already playing in AA forbthe Red Sox, so yes.
I never understand how prospects that can’t throw strikes ever become so highly hyped. That is not a skill many improve a lot on. You either have control or you don’t.
Actually quite a few prospects have control issues early on, especially if the were drafted out of high school. Young arms can learn control because the human arm does really finish growing until basically the time they are expected to contribute at the major league level. Maybe Owens might even be able to turn it around, he is young and maybe his stuff plays up if he moves to the pen.
Here we go Angels get Ohtani and now this sight goes crazy lol
Ohtani just went to the angels
Long shot but a good bet for Dbacks
Tall left handers who couldn’t throw strikes? Andrew Miller, Randy Johnson for two.
Just acquired a future first ballot Hall of Famer! At least according to most Red Sox fans two years ago.
Great hair, great Twitter handle , terrible control.