A sad tale of two promising Red Sox prospects – Blake Swihart and Henry Owens

Blake Swihart and Henry Owens were once considered vital to the future Boston Red Sox. Now both are possibly heading into what could have been.

Just what do scouting reports tell you? There are projections within the reports that are also predictions. In most instances, the predictions have a certain degree of proven validity with the top 27 major league prospects. They may not reach the lofty standards predicted or may also actually exceed them. Sometimes the promise is never attained due to injury or just fail.

The Red Sox through the years have had the unfortunate failures as has every organization. Occasionally a player such as Will Middlebrooks would burst on the MLB scene and high hopes became the standard. Then they crash. Others may get a taste of the “Big Show” and forever be delegated to Triple-A ball such as Bryce Brentz once considered an MLB right-hand power bat.

In 2014 the Red Sox had two players on the MLB Prospect Watch top 25 – Blake Swihart and Henry Owens. Both were expected to wind their way to Boston and establish themselves as starters and maybe even to be considered stars. Both had promising beginnings and now may have reached the nadir of their careers.

"Owens’ command isn’t great, but he has a good feel for pitching and continues to miss bats as he rises through the Minors. He has a ceiling of a No. 2 starter. – MLB Prospect Watch"

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Owens – a 6’6” lefty – arrived for 11 starts in 2015. Owens – then just 22-years-old – had what best could be said as a lukewarm introduction to the majors. Eventually, Owens racked up a 4-4 record and 4.57 ERA. The warning sign was control – an issue that has now made his career questionable.

Owens had a 3.4 BB/9 in 63 innings, but what stands out is the inconsistency with control. In those 11 games, Owens had five starts that went six or more innings. The total innings pitched was 36.2, but the walk total was just five. In the remaining 26.1 innings, Owens issued 16 walks. Owens had a 2.98 ERA in the five games he had his control.

Owens was a tease that season and I and many others felt he would eventually be – as predicted – a solid number two in the rotation. So just how did that work out? In 2016 Owens made five starts and walked 20 in 22 innings. At Pawtucket, his 5.4 BB/9 actually looks microscopic to a 7.4 BB/9 this year.

Looking for any glimmer of hope is Owens keeps hits off the board with a minor league career 6.9 H/9 in the minors. Owens also strikes out batters and this season he has a 9.9 K/9 with the PawSox. Despite his propensity for walks, Owens still has a respectable 3.92 ERA.