Henry Owens (owenshe02)

Henry Cole Owens

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 6", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Edison High School
• Debut August 4, 2015
• Final Game September 29, 2016
• Born July 21, 1992 in Orange, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Henry Owens was a supplemental first-round pick in the 2011 amateur draft.

Owens allowed seven hits and four runs (three earned) in 4 1/3 IP for Team USA in the 2010 World Junior Championship; he got a no-decision in the team's 14-7 win over Venezuela in a slugfest. He finished the event with the US's highest ERA. He was 12-1 with a 1.15 ERA as a high school senior, fanning 140 and allowing 45 hits in 91 2/3 IP. He had a fastball in the low 90s and two curveballs. The Boston Red Sox took him with the 36th pick of the 2011 draft; the choice was compensation for the loss of Victor Martinez to free agency. He was the third of four Boston first-rounders, following Matt Barnes and 2010 US junior squad teammate Blake Swihart and preceding Jackie Bradley Jr. (Barnes and Bradley had both been on the 2010 US college national team). The scout was Tom Battista. Owens signed for a $1,550,000 bonus.

Owens made his pro debut with the 2012 Greenville Drive on April 7th against the Lakewood BlueClaws. He was roughed up for 5 hits, 2 walks and 5 runs in 3 innings but struck out 7 and got the win. 22 of 23 appearances for Greenville that season were starts, and he ended the season with an excellent record of 12-5 in spite of a 4.87 ERA. he also struck out 130 in 101 2/3 innings. In 2013, he was with the Salem Red Sox of the Carolina League to start the season, where he went 8-5, 2.92 in 20 games. After giving up a hit per inning in his first season, he limited opponents to 66 hits in 104 2/3 innings at the higher level. At the beginning of August, he was promoted to the Portland Sea Dogs of the AA Eastern League, where he continued to pitch very well; in 6 more starts, he was 3-1, 1.78 to finish the year with a combined record of 11-6, 2.67. He pitched 135 innings, striking out 169 while giving up 84 hits and walking 68. He saw his prospect ranking improve significantly as a result of his strong performance, going from #91 before the season (according to Baseball America), to #69 afterwards (according to Baseball Prospectus).

Henry started the 2014 season at Portland with a flourish, as he threw a rain-shortened six-inning no-hitter against the Reading Fightin Phils on the first day of the season, April 3rd. he went 14-4 for Portland, and then 3-1 with the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox after being promoted late in the season. Overall, he was 17-5, 2.94. His 17 wins led the entire minor leagues, and his 170 strikeouts placed him fourth. He started the 2014 Futures Game for the United States team. In spite of all that success, he was back with Pawtucket at the start of 2015. he made 21 starts there, with a record of only 3-8 in spite of a solid 3.16 ERA in 122 1/3 innings, before he got the call to the Show.

Henry made his major league debut for the Red Sox as the starting pitcher against the New York Yankees on August 4, 2015. He had a 2-1 lead after five innings, but ran into trouble in the 6th when the first two men he faced reached base; he gave way to reliever Robbie Ross, but he allowed both inherited runners to score, and then the Sox's bullpen completely imploded as the Yankees ran away with a 13-3 win charged to his record. He recorded his first big league win in his next start, against the Detroit Tigers on August 9th, when he pitched five innings and was the beneficiary of a five-RBI performance by Jackie Bradley.

Notable Achievements

• 2014 Pitcher of the Year Eastern League Portland Sea Dogs

Related Sites

• Henry Owens on mlb.com
• BR Minors page