Loewen will pitch no longer for Orioles: Orioles left-hander Adam Loewen has abandoned his career as a pitcher because of a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that sidelined him last season and twice put him on the disabled list this year. Loewen, 24, intends to return to the majors as an outfielder. "I won't have to have surgery. If I did choose the other road with pitching, it would be a long road with no clear ending," Loewen said Saturday. "It's not a simple decision, but it's right there in front of me." Loewen hopes to duplicate the success enjoyed by Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has revived his career in the field after struggling with his control as a starting pitcher. "It's been five or six years since I've hit competitively in college, where I did hit," Loewen said. "It's going to take time and it's going to be a real challenge. But Rick Ankiel did it, so I have someone before me that I can relate to." Still, Loewen will miss being a pitcher. (Updated 07/19/2008).
Injury Report
Elbow - 15-day DL. Out for the season (Updated - 7/8/08)
Fantasy Analysis
The fourth overall pick in the 2002 amateur draft, the 6-foot-6 Loewen made his major league debut with Baltimore in 2006. His final numbers as a pitcher: 8-8 with a 5.38 ERA in 35 games, including 28 starts. "The good news is that we have a player that is very much a hitting prospect as well," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said. "And he has assured me he can still hit and wants to hit. So, the club is prepared to embark on that path with him. Once the season is over, we will start career No. 2 for Adam Loewen." Before being drafted by the Orioles, Loewen pitched and played first base for Chipola Junior College in Florida, where he batted .353 with a homer and 38 RBIs in 45 games. (Updated 07/19/2008).
Orioles left-hander Adam Loewen has abandoned his career as a pitcher because of a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that sidelined him last season and twice put him on the disabled list this year. (Updated 07/19/2008)
Advice
Loewen, 24, intends to return to the majors as an outfielder. Had Loewen opted for a second operation on his elbow, it would have taken him at least 18 months to return. And there was no guarantee he would be pain-free or would not re-injure himself.
Loewen will pitch no longer for Orioles: Orioles left-hander Adam Loewen has abandoned his career as a pitcher because of a stress fracture in his left elbow, the same injury that sidelined him last season and twice put him on the disabled list this year. Loewen, 24, intends to return to the majors as an outfielder. "I won't have to have surgery. If I did choose the other road with pitching, it would be a long road with no clear ending," Loewen said Saturday. "It's not a simple decision, but it's right there in front of me." Loewen hopes to duplicate the success enjoyed by Rick Ankiel of the St. Louis Cardinals, who has revived his career in the field after struggling with his control as a starting pitcher. "It's been five or six years since I've hit competitively in college, where I did hit," Loewen said. "It's going to take time and it's going to be a real challenge. But Rick Ankiel did it, so I have someone before me that I can relate to." Still, Loewen will miss being a pitcher. (Updated 07/19/2008).
Injury Report
Elbow - 15-day DL. Out for the season (Updated - 7/8/08)
Fantasy Analysis
The fourth overall pick in the 2002 amateur draft, the 6-foot-6 Loewen made his major league debut with Baltimore in 2006. His final numbers as a pitcher: 8-8 with a 5.38 ERA in 35 games, including 28 starts. "The good news is that we have a player that is very much a hitting prospect as well," Orioles president Andy MacPhail said. "And he has assured me he can still hit and wants to hit. So, the club is prepared to embark on that path with him. Once the season is over, we will start career No. 2 for Adam Loewen." Before being drafted by the Orioles, Loewen pitched and played first base for Chipola Junior College in Florida, where he batted .353 with a homer and 38 RBIs in 45 games. (Updated 07/19/2008).
= probable start
