SlickNick
March-2nd-2004, 08:13 PM
Loewen motivated to have big year
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Sitting at his locker last week at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, Adam Loewen flipped through a pack of Topps Baseball Cards, hoping he had landed a few mint condition superstars.
Despite having pitched in only seven professional games, Loewen already has several baseball cards. Card companies tab top prospects with cards when they are drafted, hoping the card's worth soars once they reach stardom.
Loewen is hoping his card becomes a keepsake soon. He is the Orioles' top pitching prospect, expected to reach the rotation by next season. Experts claim the 6-foot-6 left-hander will need a year, or maybe two, of minor league ball before he is ready.
"I really haven't proven myself yet, so I can't really look at that as reality," a humble Loewen said. "It definitely motivates me to have a good year. But looking at myself on a baseball card, when I really haven't done anything, is quite embarrassing."
The Orioles drafted Loewen fourth in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, and he signed just minutes before he would have been eligible to enter the 2003 draft. He received a $3.2 million deal and immediately was placed on the 40-man roster, a rarity for a draft pick. Loewen may indeed be worth such measures. He is considered a polished pitcher who relies more on his breaking ball than his fastball.
Loewen patterns his style after Oakland A's left-hander Mark Mulder, who has mastery of four pitches. Loewen's out pitch is a Barry Zito-type breaking ball that has scouts salivating.
There is probably less stress on Loewen this spring than last year at Chipola Junior College, where many scouts -- hoping Loewen would re-enter the draft -- were monitoring his every move.
"It was a lot of pressure looking up and seeing a bunch of guns in the air," he said. "So I tried to bring it a little bit. But this time, I can just be myself. I just try to do the same thing I do when [club management] is not there. I just try to let them know I am not bothered by pressure, which I have on me right now."
Loewen represents a new era in Orioles baseball. The organization has been burned in the past by subpar drafts and prospects who never panned out or who were felled by injury. Slightly ahead of Loewen in the system are left-handers Matt Riley and Erik Bedard, both of whom have combined for more Tommy John surgeries -- two -- than Major League wins -- one.
Club officials ensured Loewen would not risk injury by shutting him down after seven games for Single-A Aberdeen last year. During that stretch, he showed flashes of dominance, striking out 25 batters in 23 1/3 innings with no home runs allowed. He is expected to begin this season at Single-A Delmarva or Frederick, and there is no ceiling to his potential.
Loewen will have to get over the embarrassment of being on the front of a baseball card because his worth could soar like Microsoft.
"So far, everything is going as expected with Adam," manager Lee Mazzilli said. "I was really impressed with the way he throws the ball. He's got a good arm."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
:cannibas:
Home opener: vs. BOS
Sunday, Apr. 5 8:05pm ET
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Sitting at his locker last week at Fort Lauderdale Stadium, Adam Loewen flipped through a pack of Topps Baseball Cards, hoping he had landed a few mint condition superstars.
Despite having pitched in only seven professional games, Loewen already has several baseball cards. Card companies tab top prospects with cards when they are drafted, hoping the card's worth soars once they reach stardom.
Loewen is hoping his card becomes a keepsake soon. He is the Orioles' top pitching prospect, expected to reach the rotation by next season. Experts claim the 6-foot-6 left-hander will need a year, or maybe two, of minor league ball before he is ready.
"I really haven't proven myself yet, so I can't really look at that as reality," a humble Loewen said. "It definitely motivates me to have a good year. But looking at myself on a baseball card, when I really haven't done anything, is quite embarrassing."
The Orioles drafted Loewen fourth in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, and he signed just minutes before he would have been eligible to enter the 2003 draft. He received a $3.2 million deal and immediately was placed on the 40-man roster, a rarity for a draft pick. Loewen may indeed be worth such measures. He is considered a polished pitcher who relies more on his breaking ball than his fastball.
Loewen patterns his style after Oakland A's left-hander Mark Mulder, who has mastery of four pitches. Loewen's out pitch is a Barry Zito-type breaking ball that has scouts salivating.
There is probably less stress on Loewen this spring than last year at Chipola Junior College, where many scouts -- hoping Loewen would re-enter the draft -- were monitoring his every move.
"It was a lot of pressure looking up and seeing a bunch of guns in the air," he said. "So I tried to bring it a little bit. But this time, I can just be myself. I just try to do the same thing I do when [club management] is not there. I just try to let them know I am not bothered by pressure, which I have on me right now."
Loewen represents a new era in Orioles baseball. The organization has been burned in the past by subpar drafts and prospects who never panned out or who were felled by injury. Slightly ahead of Loewen in the system are left-handers Matt Riley and Erik Bedard, both of whom have combined for more Tommy John surgeries -- two -- than Major League wins -- one.
Club officials ensured Loewen would not risk injury by shutting him down after seven games for Single-A Aberdeen last year. During that stretch, he showed flashes of dominance, striking out 25 batters in 23 1/3 innings with no home runs allowed. He is expected to begin this season at Single-A Delmarva or Frederick, and there is no ceiling to his potential.
Loewen will have to get over the embarrassment of being on the front of a baseball card because his worth could soar like Microsoft.
"So far, everything is going as expected with Adam," manager Lee Mazzilli said. "I was really impressed with the way he throws the ball. He's got a good arm."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
:cannibas:
Home opener: vs. BOS
Sunday, Apr. 5 8:05pm ET