Jayhawk Owens facts for kids

Claude Jayhawk Owens II (born February 10, 1969) is a former American professional baseball player. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four seasons. All of his time in the big leagues was with the Colorado Rockies.

Who is Jayhawk Owens?

Jayhawk Owens is known for his unique middle name and his career in professional baseball. He played for the Colorado Rockies from 1993 to 1996. Before reaching the major leagues, he played college baseball and spent time in the minor leagues. After his playing days, he became a coach and manager.

Early Life and Baseball Journey

Jayhawk Owens was born on February 10, 1969, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He went to Glen Este High School in Cincinnati. After high school, he played college baseball at Middle Tennessee State University.

In 1990, the Minnesota Twins picked him in the second round of the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft. He started his professional career that same year with the Kenosha Twins. He played two more seasons in the Twins' minor league system.

In 1992, the Colorado Rockies chose him in the 1992 Major League Baseball expansion draft. This draft allowed new teams to pick players from other teams.

Playing in the Big Leagues

Jayhawk Owens was part of the very first Colorado Rockies team. This team began playing in Major League Baseball in 1993. He played for the Rockies for four seasons. During this time, he also spent some time with their top minor league team, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

His last MLB game was on September 28, 1996. After that, he played one more season with the Sky Sox in 1997. He then became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.

In 1998, he returned to the Minnesota Twins organization. Later that year, he moved to the Cincinnati Reds system. He played for the Reds' minor league teams through 1999 before he retired as a player.

After Playing Baseball

After his playing career, Owens stayed involved in baseball. He became a coach and manager in the Cincinnati Reds organization. In his first year as a manager, he led the Stockton Ports to win the California League championship.

The next season, he managed the Potomac Cannons. He then spent four seasons as the manager of the minor league team, the Chattanooga Lookouts. His last season as a manager was in 2007.

Jayhawk Owens is married to Jennifer. They have a daughter named Grace and a son named Walker.

The Story Behind His Name

Jayhawk Owens has Cherokee heritage. This comes from his paternal grandmother. His middle name, "Jayhawk," reflects this heritage.

When he played college baseball and started his professional career, he was often listed as "J. Owens." But then, a reporter learned the story of his unique name. Since then, he has preferred to be called "Jayhawk."