- Eric Owens (baseball)
Eric Blake Owens (born
February 3 ,1971 , inDanville, Virginia ) is a formerMajor League Baseball utility player. He is an alumnus ofFerrum College where he played alongsideNew York Mets closerBilly Wagner .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 Cincinnati Reds on June 6, 1995. The Reds traded Owens to theFlorida 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' starterJamie 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 andMatt Clement to the Marlins for Cesar Crespo and Mark Kotsay.Owens retired as an active player following the 2004 season, which he spent playing for the
Toledo Mud Hens in theDetroit Tigers organization. TheLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim hired Owens as the hitting coach for the Single-AMidwest League affiliate theCedar Rapids Kernels in 2006. He returned to Cedar Rapids in 2007 and will serve in the same capacity with the Double-AArkansas Travelers in 2008.He currently resides in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Teams
* Cincinnati Reds: 1995-1997
*Milwaukee Brewers : 1998
*San Diego Padres : 1999-2000
*Florida Marlins : 2001-2002
* Anaheim Angels: 2003ee also
*
Florida Marlins all-time roster External links
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/o/owenser01.shtml Eric Owens at "Baseball Reference.com"]
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