Chris Owings

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #3 prospect in 2014
  The 40th overall pick in a strong 2009 draft class, Owings signed for $950,000 and reached the majors in September 2013. That followed his stellar season at Triple-A Reno, when the Pacific Coast League named him its MVP and top rookie. He led the PCL in hits (180), runs (104) and total bases (263). Owings is a gamer who is such a good athlete that his tools play up. He generates good bat speed with his strong hands and consistently squares up the ball. Never one to draw many walks, he cut down on the strikeouts that had long concerned scouts; he had struck out more than 130 times in each of his previous two full seasons. His low walk totals are still a concern, but Owings is a good fastball hitter who lays off nasty breaking balls. He is an average defender at short with enough range, solid infield actions and an average arm. He runs well and increased his basestealing after working with Reno manager Brett Butler. Owings played a combined 14 games at second base with Reno and Arizona, and he could handle second or short in Arizona soon. But with Aaron Hill locked in at second, Didi Gregorius at shortstop and Cliff Pennington in a utility role, there may not be room for Owings in 2014. He could be trade bait to acquire a starting pitcher or power bat.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #7 prospect in 2013
  When the Angels took Tyler Skaggs with the 40th overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Diamondbacks used the next choice on Owings, who signed for $950,000. Plantar fasciitis in both feet abbreviated his first full pro season, and he struggled with pitch-recognition issues in 2011. He put up the best offensive numbers of his career when he repeated high Class A last year, though he leveled off after a midseason promotion. Owings uses his strong hands to generate above-average bat speed. He has more power potential than most middle infielders and could match the 17 homers he hit in 2012 at higher levels. He used a more compact swing and stayed on pitches better last year, improving his ability to handle curveballs. He still needs to draw more walks, however. Owings should be at least an average big league shortstop, with solid range and a strong arm. He runs well and could steal 20 or more bases on an annual basis once he refines his technique. He'll return to Mobile until he shows he can handle Double-A pitching. If he makes strides similar to 2012, he could reach Triple-A at midseason. Arizona's shortstop position has been wide open since the Stephen Drew trade in August, and Owings could challenge for the job by mid-2014.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #7 prospect in 2012
  Most of the Diamondbacks' best position prospects are products of the 2009 draft, in which Owings went 41st overall and signed for $950,000. He missed the second half of 2010 after coming down with plantar fascitis, inflammation on the bottom of both his feet. He struggled in 2011 as a 19-year-old in high Class A, ending the season in a 12-for- 73 (.164) slump that included 19 strikeouts. Owings has the quickest bat for his system and is strong for his size, giving him surprising power that could produce 15 homers per season. His difficulties come at the plate because he lacks patience and doesn't recognize pitches well. He tends to look for fastballs and often chases breaking balls out of the zone. He has slightly above-average speed and runs the bases well. Owings has the tools to be an above-average defender at shortstop. He has solid range and a plus arm, though he needs to improve his focus after committing 32 errors in 117 games at Visalia. Owings will need at least two more years in the minors, but he's still just 20 and projects as a future middle-infield starter in Arizona. Though he might benefit from repeating high Class A, the Diamondbacks plan to send him to Double- A with other members of his draft class.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #4 prospect in 2011
  Another 2009 sandwich pick, Owings signed just before the Aug. 15 deadline for $950,000. He has batted .300/.344/.421 in two pro seasons, but didn't play after appear-ing in the Midwest League all-star game last June because he came down with plantar fascitis, an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. He did return for instructional league. When he was drafted, there were questions about whether Owings could stay at shortstop or would need to move to second base. Scouts now believe he has a future as a solid big league shortstop, with solid quickness and agility, dependable range and a strong arm. Owings has very quick hands at the plate and could develop 12-15 home run power. He needs to address his plate discipline, but his short swing and willingness to use the whole field could translate into a .280 average in the majors. He's a slightly above-average runner with good instincts on the bases. He has the work ethic to continue to improve his game. Ticketed for high Class A in 2011, Owings may not quite be ready when Stephen Drew will be eligible for free agency after the 2012 season. If Drew stays in Arizona, Owings could move to second base, and he has the bat to profile at either middle-infield position.
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  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #5 prospect in 2010
  Owings moved up draft boards in the spring as he solidified himself as one of the best prep hitters available. Even more exciting than his bat, from the perspective of Arizona's scouts, was that he had the look of a young Craig Biggio. One of the youngest players in the draft, Owings signed for $950,000 as a sandwich pick and had no trouble with older competition, batting .306 in the Rookie-level Pioneer League. None of Owings' tools are outstanding, but they all grade out as solid across the board. He has a short swing and uses the whole field. As he has added strength, he has started to hit with more authority and should produce for average and gap power. He has drawn comparisons to Gordon Beckham and Aaron Hill, with less power. He's an average runner who shows soft hands and gets good carry on his throws. He plays with a full-throttle mentality at all times. Owings doesn't have traditional shortstop actions, and while he makes the routine plays, he may not make enough of the difficult ones to avoid a move to second base down the road. He'll have to show more plate discipline after drawing just three walks and striking out 25 times in his pro debut. Arizona will give Owings every chance to play shortstop, a position where it lacks a slam-dunk prospect. He'll begin his first full season in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #8 prospect in 2013
  The PCL rookie of the year and MVP, Owings put on a strong performance from the outset of the season. He led the league in hits, runs and total bases (263) ?He hits with power. He gets on base. He steals bases. He plays shortstop,? Guerrero said. ?What?s not to like?? There?s some question as to whether Owings has the arm strength and range to remain at shortstop, but even with a move to second, Owings projects as impact player thanks to his live-wire bat. He?s still working on plate discipline, cutting down on his strikeouts and working the count deeper to draw more walks. Owings does a good job, however, of squaring up the ball and putting it in play from line to line. He?s an above-average runner and hustler who gets the most of out of his ability by constantly working on his game.
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  Ranked California League #12 prospect in 2012
  After hitting .246/.274/.388 playing a full year in the Cal League in 2011, Owings ripped up the circuit in his second try and earned a midseason promotion. He did a better job of hanging in against breaking pitches that fooled him a year ago, when he looked for fastballs too often. He still handles fastballs well, but his improved approach helps him do a better job of staying inside balls and using the whole field. Owings has great hands at the plate, generating enough bat speed to give him close to average power despite his modest size. He hit 17 homers this year combined between Visalia and Double-A Mobile, and Hardtke said Owings has the potential to reach the 20-mark down the road. Owings was one of the best defensive shortstops in the league, and managers rated him as having its strongest infield arm. He doesn't have flashy speed, but his range plays up thanks to his instincts. He could top out around 20 steals annually once he improves his skills on the bases.
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  Ranked California League #19 prospect in 2011
  The Diamondbacks had eight of the first 100 picks in the 2009 draft and sent six of them to Visalia this year. The Rawhide was long on talent but short on experience, leading to a last-place finish in the Northern Division. The youngest regular in the league, Owings was a poster child for those qualities, at times showing off the talent that made him a sandwich pick but lacking the polish to translate it into production. He generates plenty of bat speed with a compact swing and can drive the ball all fields. He has good power for a player his size and regularly shows it off in batting practice. But managing the strike zone is still a problem for Owings, who often sits on fastballs and chases breaking pitches out of the zone. He has the arm strength and range to eventually become a big league shortstop, but he committed 32 errors--many the result of getting to balls out of the reach of other players. Owings runs well but has yet to develop basestealing skills. Extremely competitive, he has a difficult time brushing off mistakes and has a tendency to be overly critical of himself.
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  Ranked Midwest League #17 prospect in 2010
  Owings came down with plantar fasciitis (inflammation on the bottom of his foot) and didn't play after appearing in the June 22 all-star game, so many scouts who cover the MWL only got to see him in batting practice. What they saw left them intrigued. One scout said he looked better in BP than Davidson or Borchering, and another who saw Owings play when healthy preferred him as a prospect to the two third basemen. His lightning-quick hands give him surprising power at the plate. "If he's sitting fastball, I don't care who it is," Haley said, "you're not going to throw it by him." If Owings becomes more disciplined at the plate, he could hit .280 with a ceiling of 15 homers per year. Owings enhances his offensive profile with slightly above-average speed and good instincts on the bases. He also plays a solid shortstop and has a chance to stick there. He gets to the balls he should and has a strong arm with a quick release.
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  Ranked Pioneer League #7 prospect in 2009
  None of Owings' skills earmark him as a future star, but the teenage shortstop has a chance for solid-average tools across the board. He shot into the supplemental first round of the 2009 draft with with a strong senior season, signing for $950,000 in mid-August. Owings batted .345 with six extra-base hits and eight runs in six playoff games, helping Missoula push Orem to the limit. Added strength has raised Owings' offensive profile, and he projects as a line-drive, doubles hitter. A righthanded batter, he's short to the ball and uses the whole field, so he has the tools to hit for average. He's an average runner. In his debut, Owings featured solid actions, agility and body control at shortstop, making all the routine plays. He has a solid-average arm and gets good carry on his throws. He wasn't overwhelmed by the speed of the pro game and readily assumed a leadership role.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #66 prospect in 2014

• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: When the Angels took Tyler Skaggs with the 40th overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Diamondbacks used the next choice on Owings, who signed for $950,000. Planta fascitis in both feet abbreviated his first full pro season, and he struggled with pitch-recognition issues in 2011. He put up the best offensive numbers of his career when he repeated high Class A last year, though he leveled off after a midseason promotion. Scouting Report: Owings uses his strong hands to generate above-average bat speed. He has more power potential than most middle infielders and could match the 17 homers he hit in 2012 at higher levels. He used a more compact swing and stayed on pitches better last year, improving his ability to handle curveballs. He still needs to draw more walks, however. Owings should be at least an average big league shortstop, with solid range and a very strong arm. He runs well and could steal 20 or more bases on an annual basis once he refines his technique. The Future: Owings will return to Mobile until he shows he can handle Double-A pitching. If he makes strides similar to 2012, he could reach Triple-A at midseason. Didi Gregorius is now Arizona's future at shortstop, so Owings could wind up moving to second base.
• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Most of the Diamondbacks' best position prospects are products of the 2009 draft, in which Owings went 41st overall and signed for $950,000. He missed the second half of 2010 after coming down with plantar fascitis, inflammation on the bottom of both his feet. He struggled in 2011 as a 19-year-old in high Class A, ending the season in a 12-for-73 (.164) slump that included 19 strikeouts. Scouting Report: Owings has the quickest bat for his system and is strong for his size, giving him surprising power that could produce 15 homers per season. His difficulties come at the plate because he lacks patience and doesn't recognize pitches well. He tends to look for fastballs and often chases breaking balls out of the zone. He has slightly above-average speed and runs the bases well. Owings has the tools to be an above-average defender at shortstop. He has solid range and a plus arm, though he needs to improve his focus after committing 32 errors in 117 games at Visalia. The Future: Owings will need at least two more years in the minors, but he's still just 20 and projects as a future middle-infield starter in Arizona. Though he might benefit from repeating high Class A, the Diamondbacks plan to send him to Double-A with other members of his draft class.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Background: Another 2009 sandwich pick, Owings signed just before the Aug. 15 deadline for $950,000. He has batted .300/.324/.421 in two pro seasons, but didn't play after appearing in the Midwest League all-star game last June because he came down with plantar fasciitis, an inflammation on the bottom of the foot. He did return for instructional league. Scouting Report: When he was drafted, there were questions about whether Owings could stay at shortstop or would need to move to second base. Scouts now believe he has a future as a solid big league shortstop, with good quickness and agility, dependable range and a strong arm. Owings has very quick hands at the plate and could develop 12-15 home run power. He needs to address his plate discipline, but his short swing and willingness to use the whole field could translate into a .280 average in the majors. He's a slightly above-average runner with good instincts on the bases. He has the work ethic to continue to improve his game. The Future: Ticketed for high Class A in 2011, Owings may not quite be ready when Stephen Drew will be eligible for free agency after the 2012 season. If Drew stays in Arizona, Owings could move to second base, and he has the bat to profile at either middle-infield position.