Jayhawk Owens
Encyclopedia
Claude Jayhawk Owens is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
. He played four seasons in the majors, from 1993–1996, all for the Colorado Rockies
.
A graduate of Glen Este High School
in Cincinnati, Owens played college baseball at Middle Tennessee State University
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
in the second round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft
. He began his professional career that season with the Kenosha Twins
. After playing two more seasons in their organization, he was left unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft, where he was selected by the Rockies with the 23rd pick.
Owens was a member of the inaugural Colorado Rockies
team that began play in Major League Baseball in . He split four seasons between the Rockies and their top farm team, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
, playing his final MLB game on September 28, 1996. After spending the entire season with the Sky Sox, he became a free agent, returning to the Twins organization to start 1998. He moved to the Cincinnati Reds
system partway through the season, spending the rest of 1998 and all of 1999 with their organization before retiring.
Following his playing career, Owens remained in the Reds organization as a minor league coach and manager. In his first season as a manager, he guided the Stockton Ports
to the California League
championship. The next season, he managed the Potomac Cannons, then spent four seasons as the manager of the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts
, with his last season coming in 2007. He has a family of four, a daughter named Grace, a son named Walker, and a wife named Jennifer.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He played four seasons in the majors, from 1993–1996, all for 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...
.
A graduate of Glen Este High School
Glen Este High School
Glen Este High School is a public high school in Glen Este outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is one of two high schools in the West Clermont Local School District, the other being Amelia High School...
in Cincinnati, Owens played college baseball at Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University
Middle Tennessee State University, commonly abbreviated as MTSU, is a public university located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, United States....
. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in the second round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft
1990 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:The draft went a record 101 rounds, surpassing 1989's total of 88, and included a record 1,487 selections. The Astros led all clubs with 100 selections. Seattle was second with 75,...
. He began his professional career that season with the Kenosha Twins
Kenosha Twins
The Kenosha Twins began play in the Midwest League in 1984 when the club relocated from Wisconsin Rapids. In 1992, the team was sold, and the following year, they moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where they became known as the Fort Wayne Wizards. They played their home games at Simmons Field, located...
. After playing two more seasons in their organization, he was left unprotected in the 1992 expansion draft, where he was selected by the Rockies with the 23rd pick.
Owens was a member of the inaugural 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...
team that began play in Major League Baseball in . He split four seasons between the Rockies and their top farm team, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
, playing his final MLB game on September 28, 1996. After spending the entire season with the Sky Sox, he became a free agent, returning to the Twins organization to start 1998. He moved to 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....
system partway through the season, spending the rest of 1998 and all of 1999 with their organization before retiring.
Following his playing career, Owens remained in the Reds organization as a minor league coach and manager. In his first season as a manager, he guided the Stockton Ports
Stockton Ports
The Stockton Ports are a baseball team in Stockton, California. The Ports play in the Northern Division of the Class A – Advanced California League and are a Minor League affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Their home field is Banner Island Ballpark which seats over 5,000 people and opened in...
to the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
championship. The next season, he managed the Potomac Cannons, then spent four seasons as the manager of the minor league Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
, with his last season coming in 2007. He has a family of four, a daughter named Grace, a son named Walker, and a wife named Jennifer.