Starting Pitcher Henry Owens is the prospect of the future

HENRY OWENS

RED SOX : BASEBALL 2014
April 15,2014.









c/o Ben Shapiro
      The Republican

Boston Red Sox rookie Xander Bogaerts is off to a fast start. He looks like he's going to have a great season, and could be one of the centerpieces of the Red Sox for years to come.

Bogaerts is a former can't-miss, untouchable minor league prospect. He was the type of prospect that doesn't come around very often.

Or do they?

This season, Red Sox fans can count on their team being linked to numerous trade rumors. If the right deal presents itself then Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington has shown a willingness to make a trade.

Here's something else to count on: Pitching prospect Henry Owens being mentioned as a target of other teams. You can also count on the Red Sox not making any trades involving Owens.

Young, athletically gifted shortstops with an uncanny ability to hit the baseball such as Xander Bogaerts are pretty tough to find.

So are 21-year-old, 6-foot-6 left-handers with an above-average fastball, an above-average changeup and a rapidly improving curveball. Add in a deceptive delivery, and Owens has all the makings of a future, top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher.

Guys like that generally don't get traded.

Owens came on strong last season, and emerged as one of baseball's better young pitching prospects. One great season in the lower-levels of the minor leagues is nice, but it would be quickly forgotten if Owens were to falter in 2014 as he advances toward the upper levels of the minor leagues.

Would Owens have problems in spring training?

No, not even close. By late March, Owens' exploits were grabbing headlines and attracting attention.

It was still just spring training, what about once the real games started?

Well the real games have started, and Owens isn't letting up.

Thursday night, while rookies Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts were helping to lead the Red Sox to their second win of the 2014 season. Henry Owens was making his first start of the season for the Red Sox double-A affiliate, the Portland Sea Dogs.

The Sea Dogs won a six-inning, rain-shortened affair 5-0. Owens not only pitched a shutout, he threw a no-hitter (albeit and abbreviated one).

Owens had nine strikeouts and allowed two walks while putting up a goose egg in the hits column. He threw 86 pitches, including 59 strikes. It was the type of performance that demands media attention from beyond the Red Sox media pool.

It is also going to make Owens that much more untouchable. Owens is rapidly ascending from very promising pitching prospect, to a guy who could end up being a true ace.

The fact that Owens has been posting stellar outings, combined with his physical gifts, makes him not just the best pitching prospect in the pitching-rich Red Sox minor league system, but one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.

No team wants to rush a prospect. It is important that young players are given time to properly develop, but if Owens keeps dominating at the Double-A level, then a promotion to Triple-A Pawtucket could happen by this summer.

Owens is young. He's barely got two years of professional baseball experience on his resume, but it seems like every time he takes the mound he's trying to get the attention of Cherington and manager John Farrell.

After Thursday night's no-hitter, Owens is not lacking for attention.

He's the next Bogaerts. He's the guy the Red Sox aren't going to trade, he's got all the ingredients to be a very good major league starting pitcher. He's only at Double-A right now, but he looks to be on the fast track to the majors.

Bogaerts just arrived in the majors, and Red Sox fans are lucky enough to be able to discuss "who's next?"

Henry Owens,that's who.