Jerry Owens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerry Owens |
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Owens with the Chicago White Sox
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: February 16, 1981 Hollywood, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 11, 2006, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| April 29, 2009, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Home runs | 1 | ||
| Runs batted in | 18 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Jerry Lee Owens, born on February 16, 1981, is a former professional baseball player from America. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox for parts of four seasons, from 2006 to 2009.
Owens announced he was retiring from professional baseball in November 2016. At that time, he was playing for the Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League.
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Jerry Owens' Early Baseball Days
High School and College Sports
Jerry Owens went to Hart High School in California. There, he was a wide receiver on the school's championship football team. He even played alongside NFL quarterback Kyle Boller.
In high school, Owens was recognized as one of the best young athletes in the country. He first attended the University of California, Los Angeles. However, after some injuries, he moved to The Master's College in California. In 2003, he was named the Small College All-American Outfielder.
Jerry Owens' Professional Baseball Career
Starting with the Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos picked Jerry Owens in the second round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. This was the 57th player chosen overall. Owens started his professional journey in 2003 with the Single-A Vermont Expos. He played only two games there.
In 2004, Owens moved up to the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats. He started to show his talent, hitting for a .292 average. He also stole 30 stolen bases in 108 games.
Playing for the Chicago White Sox
On February 13, 2005, Owens was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for another outfielder, Alex Escobar. Owens spent the 2005 season with the Double-A Birmingham Barons. He had a fantastic season, hitting .331 with two home runs. He also had 52 RBI and stole 38 bases in 130 games. Owens was named an All-Star outfielder for the Southern League. He also led the league in batting average that year.
In spring training for the White Sox in 2006, Owens competed for the center field position. He was later sent to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights. He batted .262 with four home runs and 48 RBI in 112 games. He also improved his base-stealing skills, stealing 40 bases while being caught only 12 times.
Owens made his MLB debut on September 11, 2006, as a pinch runner against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. His first start in a game was on September 27. In that game, he got his first hit and stole his first base in the major leagues.
At the start of the 2008 season, Owens was placed on the disabled list. This was because of a small tear in a muscle in his right hip.
Time with the Seattle Mariners
After playing 12 games for the White Sox in 2009, Owens was released on May 2. He then signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners the very next day. He played for the Mariners' Triple-A team, the Tacoma Rainiers. He led the Rainiers with a .323 batting average. He also hit three home runs, had 37 RBI, and stole 23 bases in 100 games.
Washington Nationals and Beyond
On December 8, 2009, the Washington Nationals signed Owens to a minor league contract. He was invited to their Spring Training. However, he did not play during the 2010 season.
After three years away from baseball, Owens signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers for the 2013 season. He finished that season with a .341 batting average, two home runs, and 48 RBI in 117 games.
Playing in Mexico
Owens also played in the Mexican Baseball League (LMB). He first signed with the Piratas de Campeche in May 2013. He played seven games for them before being released in early June.
Later, Owens played for the Tigres de Quintana Roo in both the 2014 and 2016 seasons.
Owens also played in the Mexican Pacific League (LMP), which is a winter league. He played four seasons with the Naranjeros de Hermosillo, starting in 2013-14. His team won the league championship that year. Owens was a key player, winning the league batting title with a .361 average. He had 90 hits, 10 doubles, four triples, one home run, and 29 RBI in 61 games.
Owens announced his retirement from professional baseball on November 14, 2016. He said he no longer felt physically able to continue playing.
