Q and A with Mack and... P Dylan Owen

Mack:   Hey folks. I have a treat for you today.  We're talking to the last New York Mets pitcher to throw a no-hitter...  Oh, and you thought there were none. Well, you're wrong.  It's Francis Marion's own Dylan Owen. Hey D.P., are you home?

Owen:   Hey, how’s it going. No I'm in Venezuela getting ready for the season

Mack:  That's right. Do me a favor... say hello to Tuff for me.  I'm very happy that you are with him, because playing winter ball means the team has plans for a player.  I guess first thing first... what's your after thoughts on the 2011 season in Buffalo?

Owen:  I will do it. I was happy with the season I felt like I was consistent throughout the year and stayed healthy. Of course until I got hit my last start

Mack:  What last start? Old news...  Speaking of starting, will you be in Venezuela or will you be working out of the pen?

 Owen:  I will be starting

Mack:  I'm thrilled that you will be starting, but I hope you will be given an opportunity to compete for a Queens rotation spot in ST.  Things are getting a little crowded for that SP5 slot. Are you working on any new pitches while you're pitching in the VWL?

 Owen:  Yeah, I hope so too I would love an opportunity compete for it.

Mack:  Dylan, you and I haven't talked since that great day you through a no-hitter. Could you go back and walk us through that great day?

Owen:  Well, they called me over Christmas break and told me I was starting game one. I only threw once while I was in Puerto Rico and they wanted me to pitch the first game of the playoffs. I didn't know what to expect but as the game went on and I started to notice that I had a no no going one of the players got hurt at first and after about thirty minutes went by before the ambulance showed I was sitting there trying not to think about it lol. But It worked out

Mack: Okay... this is a tough question....  You're at a crossroad in your professional baseball career. You don't everything there is to do in the minors and, on paper, the only way to Queens seems to be through the bullpen. Do you see yourself making that step in 2012?   

Owen:  Yeah.,  I don't mind the bullpen I injoy it I feel like I had strong numbers as a starter last year though so we will see.

Mack:   Dylan,  thanks for the time. It's always a pleasure.  In closing, is there anything you want to say to my readers out there?

Owen:   No problem. Thanks for supporting us and following us throughout the years

More Owen stuff:

Dylan Owen   SP   5-11   185   Francis Marion University 

Owen, a native of Chesterfield (pop: 1,318), South Carolina, had a remarkable career at Francis Marion University, where he struck out 334 batters in 323 innings. He was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings NCAA Division II All-South Atlnatic Region Team, in addition to being named the region’s “Pitcher of the Year” 

Owen was drafted in the 20th round of the 2007 draft, signed, and assigned to Brooklyn. 

He throws a 93 mph fastball, and an electric slider.

In August 2007, Owen was named to the NY-Penn All-Star team. He ended the 2007 season with a stellar 9-1, 1.49, 0.87 season in 14 games, 13 starts, plus had 69 Ks in 72.1 IP. He was named as the recipient of the 2007 Sterling Award, given to the MVP of the Brooklyn Cyclones.

In November Scouts.com named Owens the 21^st top Mets prospect.

From the Prospect Handbook:  Owen dominated hitters during his college career at Francis Marion (S.C.), earning NCAA Division II 2007 pitcher-of-the-year honors after going 10-1, 1.04 and setting the Peach Belt Conference career strikeout record with 334 in three seasons. His success carried over into his pro debut, as he took advantage of short-season Brooklyn's pitcher-friendly Keyspan Park like few pitchers have. Signed for $50,000 in the 20th round, Owen claimed two-thirds of the New York-Penn League's pitching triple crown, leading in wins (nine) and ERA (1.49). He has a shorter and wider body than scouts would like but also solid-average stuff and an advanced feel pitching. He spots his 86-90 mph fastball to all four quadrants of the strike zone, and while he has below-average velocity, he can get to 91-92 when needed, even late in games. He has above-average fastball command, and he can vary his breaking balls depending on the situation, using shorter sliders for groundballs and bigger curves for strikeouts. Owen doesn't have much projection or a true plus pitch, so he's unlikely to become an elite prospect. But he's likely to get pushed aggressively to see if he can get advanced hitters out, and he could jump to high Class A in 2008.

In 2008, Owen pitched for both St. Lucie and Binghamton, combining for a 13-7, 3.66 record. 

In October 2008, Toby Hyde on Dylan Owen: Owen and Gee were back-to-back picks in 2007. In 2007, Owen led the NYP in wins and ERA while earning the team’s Sterling Award. Both pitchers hopped right from Brooklyn to the FSL. Like Gee, Owen had great success in the FSL by throwing lots of strikes with a superb K/BB rate (3.51). Unlike Gee, Owen’s first taste of AA did not go well. Owen throws a fastball that’s mostly upper 80s, a slider and a changeup. Likely 09 start: AA

From Mike Newman/Mets Geek:  Dylan Owen, SP - In tying for the Mets’ minor league lead in wins, the 22-year old Owen earned a number of followers as one of the Mets 2007 big three late round college pitching picks. Along with Dillon Gee, and Mike Antonini, the Mets added pitching depth to a depleted organization post the Johan Santana deal. While Owen’s numbers compare favorably to the two aforementioned players, his future prospects likely do not. For starters, Owen is pretty small, as his listed height of 5′11″ seems closer to 5′10″ from what I have read. Pedro Martinez aside, righties under six feet rarely have major league success. Of course a fan will throw out Tim Lincecum as another successful pitcher under six feet, but he’s a true freak of nature. Owen is not. With good control and average stuff, pitchers similar to Owen often struggle against advanced competition. His 5.51 ERA in a short, but possibly telling, Double-A stint points to 2009 being a true test of Owen’s mettle. Remember, Dillon Gee dominated in his limited time in Double-A and Antonini will receive numerous opportunities because he’s a lefty. If Antonini and Gee are A’s, Owen is a B or B- leaving him with a very iffy future. 

11-15-10 from: - link  - Owen had another OK season in 2010 though he did show signs that he might top out before ever reaching Queens. After a disappointing 2009 season with Binghamton, Owen got off to a quick start this year and even got a call up to Buffalo in late May. However, he was completely overmatched posting a 7.11 ERA in ten appearances and was sent back by July. Owen worked primarily out of the 'pen after his return but didn't fare well posting a 4.55 ERA in sixteen relief appearances. His 3.59 mark as a starter looks nicer but a 4.86 FIP doesn't bode well for his future in the rotation. As an '07 20th rounder, the odds are already against Dylan Owen and with middling velocity and stuff, he'll need to figure out how to have success in short stints if he's ever going to make it in the bigs.

1-18-11: - The Caguas Criollos defeated the San Juan Senadores 2-1 to advance to the finals against Ponce. Luis Montanez hit a game winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning to send Caguas to victory. Both teams got excellent pitching performances, San Juan getting five strong innings from Nerio Rodriguez and Caguas getting six strong innings from Dylan Owen. Saul Rivera got credit for the vulture win. -  

4-11-11: - Down: - P – Dylan Owen -  Owen is pretty well running out of options. He failed as a starter, stumbled as a reliever, and has a double-digit ERA for two levels this season. The good news for him is Buffalo is running out of pitchers, so he may still get a few more chances.

4-25-11: - SP Dylan Owen pitched very well, but I no idea what to do with a pitcher that barely hits 90. There just isn’t any room for him in a major league rotation, the Mets already have one guy like this in Dillon Gee, and there isn’t enough velo for a reliever. I will never understand why college kids play 4-5 years for nothing when they are waiting critical years in the workforce.

4-30-11: - Pitchers peak. There comes a time in everyone’s career that hitters seem to be able to pick up every pitch you throw. The truth is the pitch itself has loss some of its speed or movement and the last thing you want to do is throw a straight ball at any speed. Binghamton has two pitchers that have given it their all. Dylan Owen (18.00) has been a workhorse starter in the system and has had the privilege of throwing two no-hitters since becoming a professional. And, Eric Niesen (14.85) is a devoutly religious young man that has played at every level of the organization. Both deserve success, but neither seems capable of producing it anymore. Baseball is a business and both are standing in the way of other pitchers (Jeff Kaplan and Brandon Sage) that need to be tested at this level. Sadly, one should look for some movement here soon.