Adam Loewen

by cardzfan24 on Oct 30, 2008 1:11 PM EDT

Here is an interesting story to highlight, one that Cardinals fans might have some empathy for. Adam Loewen is a former top starting pitcher prospect of the Baltimore Orioles.

From 2004-06 he was consistently in the Oriole's top three top prospects, and was a top fifty prospect in baseball with a high ranking of #13 in all of baseball. (thebaseballcube.com) Since the beginning of 2007, Loewen's career has been much more difficult. A stress factor in his pitching forearm sidelined him for much of 2007, and another stress fracture has ended his pitching career.

You'll never guess what he's up to now......that's right, he is trying to reinvent himself as a position player! Apparently he was a pretty good hitter before he became a full time pitcher and wants to see if he can still hit. I say good for him.

So if you are looking for a ballplayer to root for outside of our organization (for now....) and loved the Rick Ankiel story, here is another opportunity to follow a career resurrection attempt. Good luck, Adam, I hope you make the Show! He is currently a free agent and the Toronto Blue Jays are kicking the tires on him.

Just wanted to bring an interesting and under the radar story to everyone's attention. Maybe we should sign him, and see if lightning can strike twice!

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interesting

i see he’s about 24? still pretty young. should be interesting to see what becomes of him.

by mattybobo on Oct 30, 2008 2:33 PM EDT reply actions

Interesting is right!

by stlfan on Oct 30, 2008 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

Except...

Loewen asked the O’s for his release. They agreed, after expressing interest in resigning him to reinvent as a position player.

Then he turned around and signed with the Blue Jays.

Not exactly the warm and fuzzy two-way-loyalty between the Cards and Ankiel.

by blove121 on Oct 30, 2008 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

FWIW

Loewen is a Canadian citizen

Those Pilgrims ain't lookin' so proud now...

by giveml on Oct 30, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I think

that may speak more about the O’s organization than Loewen. That place is a baseball wasteland right now.

"I believe he’s been reincarnated, that he played before, in the twenties and thirties, and he’s back to prove something." - Former teammate Mark McGwire about Albert Pujols

by cardzfan24 on Oct 30, 2008 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't even think I'd want to play for the O's right now.

On with the (good) youth movement!

by aet15 on Oct 31, 2008 3:30 AM EDT up reply actions

they released him

he didnt ask to be released. the O’s released him because he was out of options, would have been paid around $700k, and they wanted to clear space on the 40 man.

by dmb60614 on Oct 31, 2008 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

he is not ankiel

ankiel had all the hype coming straight out of high school to the cards at 19 loewen is a pitcher who didnt succeed in two years opf big league pitching, plus loewen was never good like ankiel was at the start is wasnt as much of a surprise when loewen fell apart, that being said all the best to him up north of the border

by thenextgen on Nov 1, 2008 4:00 PM EDT reply actions

Never called him Ankiel

I did say that people who enjoyed the Rick Ankiel story may want to follow this story for similar reasons. Do with that what you will!

"I believe he’s been reincarnated, that he played before, in the twenties and thirties, and he’s back to prove something." - Former teammate Mark McGwire about Albert Pujols

by cardzfan24 on Nov 2, 2008 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions