Infielder Chris Owings announced his retirement on his Instagram page last week. He last played in affiliated ball in the Dodgers organization in 2024. Now, it appears the 11-year big-league veteran will hang up his spikes at the age of 34. “This game has given me more than I could’ve ever imagined,” said Owings, who went on to thank his family, coaches, and the various organizations of which he had been a part during his career.
Owings was drafted in the first round by the Diamondbacks in 2009, making his major-league debut four years later. He would spend six seasons with Arizona, playing a total of 575 games out in the desert and batting .250/.291/.378 with a 73 wRC+. During that time, he maxed out at 552 plate appearances in 147 games in 2015. The following year, he led the majors in triples (11) while batting .277/.315/.416 in 119 games and splitting time between shortstop and center field. After leaving the Diamondbacks following the 2018 season, he went on to spend brief major-league stints with the Royals, Red Sox, Rockies, Orioles, and Pirates, often acting as a utility player. His last big-league appearances came in 2023 with Pittsburgh. He signed a minor league pact with the Dodgers in February 2024 and played in 80 games at the Triple-A level before being released in July of that year.
In all, Owings played in 723 games and earned just over $11MM in his career. He batted .239/.286/.364 with 550 hits, 37 home runs, 220 RBI, and 79 stolen bases. He was also a serviceable defender, grading out as below-average in 2,105 1/3 innings at shortstop (-11 career DRS) but above average in 1,647 2/3 innings at the keystone (9 DRS). We at MLBTR congratulate Owings on a solid career and wish him the best in retirement.
Photo courtesy of Isaiah J. Downing, Imagn Images
Marte, Lamb, Goldy, and him once made for a pretty formidable infield. Best to him in his retirement.
1.3 WAR across 11 seasons surprised me. I pegged him in the 3-5 range
Rest in Plush. He was Showy Ohtani before Showy Ohtani.
You’re thinking of Micah Owings
Yep
Man, when he was the PCL player of the year a few seasons ago at Reno, it never occurred to me that he wouldn’t be an everyday player somewhere. Pity.
Even in Pitysburgh!
He lead the majors in triples in 2016, that’s a pretty cool thing to have on your cv.
True. And the following season, he hit 25 doubles and 12 homers. A good career.
I remember his brief stint with the Red Sox in 2019. Surprised he couldn’t stick as a utility player given his positional versatility and his speed
Happy retirement to Pittsburgh Pirates legend Chris Owings!