Eric Owens (baseball player)
Encyclopedia
Eric Blake Owens is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
. He is an alumnus of Ferrum College
.
Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
in the 4th round of the 1992 MLB amateur draft, Owens would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Reds on June 6, 1995. The Reds traded him to the Florida Marlins
in March 1998 for a player to be named later (Jesus Martinez). In 1998, Owens' contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers
.
After one year with the Brewers, Owens was granted free agency. He signed a contract with the San Diego Padres
on December 10, 1998. Owens shared a locker with country music legend Garth Brooks
during Spring Training in 1999, and the two have remained friends to this day.
On July 15, 1999, while playing for the Padres, Owens became the first player to collect a hit at Seattle's Safeco Field
, lining the sixth pitch of the game from Mariners' starter Jamie Moyer
into shallow right field during an interleague game. The Padres traded Owens to the Florida Marlins
prior to the 2001 season in a five-player deal that saw San Diego send Omar Ortiz and Matt Clement
to the Marlins for Cesar Crespo and Mark Kotsay.
His last season in affiliated baseball was the 2004 season, which he spent playing for the Toledo Mud Hens
in the Detroit Tigers
organization. He spent two more seasons playing in the Mexican Leagues. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
hired Owens as the hitting coach for the Single-A Midwest League
affiliate the Cedar Rapids Kernels
in 2006. He returned to Cedar Rapids in 2007 and will serve in the same capacity with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers
in 2008. He was the manager of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
and later worked as a roving instructor in the Angels minor league system. He is currently the minor league hitting coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. He is an alumnus of Ferrum College
Ferrum College
Ferrum College is a private college in Ferrum, Virginia, USA, in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Ferrum College has the second-oldest environmental science program in the nation and was ranked 41st by US News and World Report in Comprehensive Colleges–Bachelor's for 2006....
.
Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the 4th round of the 1992 MLB amateur draft, Owens would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Reds on June 6, 1995. The Reds traded him to 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...
in March 1998 for a player to be named later (Jesus Martinez). In 1998, Owens' contract was purchased by 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...
.
After one year with the Brewers, Owens was granted free agency. He signed a contract with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
on December 10, 1998. Owens shared a locker with country music legend Garth Brooks
Garth Brooks
Troyal Garth Brooks , best known as Garth Brooks, is an American country music artist who helped make country music a worldwide phenomenon. His eponymous first album was released in 1989 and peaked at number 2 in the US country album chart while climbing to number 13 on the Billboard 200 album chart...
during Spring Training in 1999, and the two have remained friends to this day.
On July 15, 1999, while playing for the Padres, Owens became the first player to collect a hit at Seattle's Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
, lining the sixth pitch of the game from Mariners' starter Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
into shallow right field during an interleague game. The Padres traded Owens to 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...
prior to the 2001 season in a five-player deal that saw San Diego send Omar Ortiz and Matt Clement
Matt Clement
Matthew Paul Clement is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Clement played for the San Diego Padres , Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox . While on the Red Sox active roster, he was injured all of the 2007 season...
to the Marlins for Cesar Crespo and Mark Kotsay.
His last season in affiliated baseball was the 2004 season, which he spent playing for the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
in the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization. He spent two more seasons playing in the Mexican Leagues. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
hired Owens as the hitting coach for the Single-A Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
affiliate the Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids Kernels
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Class A minor league baseball team based in Iowa. It is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and plays in the Midwest League.-Franchise history:...
in 2006. He returned to Cedar Rapids in 2007 and will serve in the same capacity with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
in 2008. He was the manager of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
and later worked as a roving instructor in the Angels minor league system. He is currently the minor league hitting coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.