{{short description|American baseball player (born 1987)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox baseball biography |name=Rudy Owens |image=Rudy Owens on June 5, 2014.jpg |image_size=240px |caption=Owens with the Oklahoma City RedHawks in 2014 |team= |number=32 |position=Pitcher |birth_date={{birth date and age|1987|12|18}} |birth_place=Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |bats=Left |throws=Left |debutleague = MLB | debutdate = May 23 | debutyear = 2014 | debutteam = Houston Astros |debut2league=CPBL |debut2date=March 19 |debut2year=2016 |debut2team=Chinatrust Brothers | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = May 23 | finalyear = 2014 | finalteam = Houston Astros |final2league=CPBL |final2date=May 17 |final2year=2016 |final2team=Chinatrust Brothers |statleague = MLB | stat1label = Win–loss record | stat1value = 0–1 | stat2label = Earned run average | stat2value = 7.94 | stat3label = Strikeouts | stat3value = 1 |stat2league = CPBL | stat21label = Win–loss record | stat21value = 4–3 | stat22label = Earned run average | stat22value = 6.59 | stat23label = Strikeouts | stat23value = 52 | teams = * Houston Astros ({{mlby|2014}}) * Chinatrust Brothers ({{by|2016}}) }} '''Rudy C. Owens''' (born December 18, 1987) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Chinatrust Brothers.
==Career== Owens attended Mesa High School in Mesa, Arizona,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Magruder |first=Jack |date=2007-06-01 |title=Mesa High grad Owens signs with Pittsburgh |url=https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/sports/mesa-high-grad-owens-signs-with-pittsburgh/article_33f62844-901d-51bb-b072-da62ca708ee3.html |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=East Valley Tribune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashmore |first=Michael J. |title=Patriots new addition hopes to get noticed on mound |url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/baseball/patriots/2016/06/14/patriots-new-addition-hopes-get-noticed-mound/85896142/ |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=Courier News |language=en-US}}</ref> where he played for the school's baseball team.<ref>{{cite web|author=Les Willsey |url=http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/article_dcf1cbf8-271c-5f0f-a9c7-81908e57c000.html |title=Owens tops list of local pro baseball prospects - East Valley Tribune: Home |publisher=East Valley Tribune |date=June 6, 2006 |access-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref>
===Pittsburgh Pirates=== The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Owens out of Mesa in the 28th round (830th overall) of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Domingo|first1=Odeen|title=Mesa High pitcher pick of Pirates|url=http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/mesa/articles/0610mr-owens0610Z11.html|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=The Arizona Republic|date=June 10, 2006}}</ref> After attending Chandler-Gilbert Community College for the 2007 college baseball season, he signed with the Pirates as a draft-and-follow prospect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_510464.html |title=Pirates sign two 2006 draft-and-follow players |publisher=TribLIVE |date=June 1, 2007 |access-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref>
In 2009, Owens was named a Class-A All-Star, South Atlantic League (SAL) All-Star, and SAL Most Outstanding Pitcher after going 10-1 with a 1.70 ERA in 19 games. He was also named the Pittsburgh Pirates' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_645064.html |title=Alvarez, Owens honored for play in minors |publisher=TribLIVE |date=September 26, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref> In 2010, Owens was named an Eastern League All-Star and was again named the Pirates' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianagazette.com/b_reg_sports/article_7364b0de-8e1a-58e0-91d7-a3a16513593d.html |title=AA BASEBALL: CURVE'S PRESLEY, OWENS NAMED PIRATES MINORS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR - The Indiana Gazette Online: Steelers/Penguins/Pirates/Pitt |publisher=Indianagazette.com |date=September 25, 2010 |access-date=January 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126091009/http://www.indianagazette.com/b_reg_sports/article_7364b0de-8e1a-58e0-91d7-a3a16513593d.html |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster after the 2011 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.<ref name="Brink">{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11323/1191159-63.stm |title=Six minor leaguers join Pirates 40-man roster |newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=November 19, 2011 |access-date=February 4, 2012 |first=Bill |last=Brink}}</ref>
===Houston Astros=== On July 24, 2012, Owens was traded alongside Robbie Grossman and Colton Cain to the Astros in exchange for Wandy Rodríguez.<ref>{{cite web|author=|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120724&content_id=35503244&vkey=pr_hou&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524031150/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120724&content_id=35503244&vkey=pr_hou&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2014 |title=Astros acquire three prospects from Pittsburgh |publisher=Houston.astros.mlb.com |date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=January 11, 2013}}</ref> He spent the rest of the 2012 season with the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the Astros' Triple–A affiliate, and remained with the affiliate through 2013.
On May 23, 2014, the Astros recalled Owens from Triple–A Oklahoma City to make his Major League debut against the Seattle Mariners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140523&content_id=76511648&c_id=hou |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524030614/http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140523&content_id=76511648&c_id=hou |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 24, 2014 |title=Astros recall Owens to make MLB debut|work=MLB.com |date=May 23, 2014 |access-date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> On October 9, Owens was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Oklahoma City.<ref>{{cite news|last1=de Jesus Ortiz|first1=Jose|title=Astros decline option on Matt Albers; Jesus Guzman, Rudy Owens off 40-man roster|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/10/09/astros-decline-option-on-matt-albers-jesus-guzman-rudy-owens-off-40-man-roster/?22102103=0|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=Houston Chronicle|date=October 9, 2014}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Dodgers=== Owens signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics November 14, 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Drellich|first1=Evan|title=Rudy Owens signs minor league deal with A's|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2014/11/15/rudy-owens-signs-minor-league-deal-with-as/|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=Houston Chronicle|date=November 15, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor Moves: Vasquez, Mejia, Allen, Wren, Owens|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/11/minor-moves-vasquez-mejia-allen-wren-owens.html|access-date=January 24, 2026|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>
Owens was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 4, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gurnick|first1=Ken|title=Dodgers acquire Minor League pitcher Owens from Oakland|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/116416448/los-angeles-dodgers-acquire-minor-league-pitcher-rudy-owens-from-oakland-as|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070743/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/116416448/los-angeles-dodgers-acquire-minor-league-pitcher-rudy-owens-from-oakland-as|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=MLB.com|date=April 4, 2015}}</ref> He pitched in 11 games across three levels for the Dodgers organization and was 0–4 with a 3.89 ERA. The Dodgers released Owens on July 16.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Eddy|first1=Matt|title=Minor League Transactions: July 24–30|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-july-24-30/|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=Baseball America|date=August 5, 2015}}</ref>
===Colorado Rockies=== Owens signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies on July 25, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|title='Topes Today (July 26)|url=http://www.abqjournal.com/618365/sports/topes-today-july-26.html|access-date=August 5, 2015|work=Albuquerque Journal|date=July 26, 2015}}</ref> He made eight appearances (seven starts) for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, registering a 2-3 record and 6.17 ERA with 24 strikeouts over 35 innings of work.
===Somerset Patriots=== On June 15, 2016, Owens signed with the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 12 appearances (11 starts) for the Patriots, Owens logged a 4-3 record and 4.01 ERA with 67 strikeouts across {{fraction|67|1|3}} innings pitched.
===Fortitudo Baseball Bologna=== On May 8, 2017, Owens signed with the Fortitudo Baseball Bologna of the Italian Baseball League. He made 14 starts for Bologna, compiling a 7-4 record and 2.58 ERA with 80 strikeouts across {{fraction|73|1|3}} innings pitched.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} {{baseballstats |mlb=502168 |espn=31072 |br=o/owensru01 |fangraphs=5226 |brm=owens-001rud}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Owens, Rudy}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Baseball players from Mesa, Arizona Category:Major League Baseball pitchers Category:Houston Astros players Category:Chandler–Gilbert Coyotes baseball players Category:Gulf Coast Pirates players Category:State College Spikes players Category:West Virginia Power players Category:Lynchburg Hillcats players Category:Altoona Curve players Category:Indianapolis Indians players Category:Oklahoma City RedHawks players Category:Gigantes del Cibao players Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Category:Oklahoma City Dodgers players Category:Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players Category:Tulsa Drillers players Category:Albuquerque Isotopes players Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Somerset Patriots players Category:Mesa High School alumni Category:Toros del Este players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Italy Category:Unipol Bologna players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Taiwan Category:CTBC Brothers players