Dylan Owen has easily been the Cyclones best pitcher this season, finishing the regular season with nine wins and a stellar 1.49 ERA, both tops in the New York–Penn League. Not bad for a guy who was expected to be the team’s mop-up man in the bullpen before the season started.
“They told me when I was drafted that I was going to mostly be coming out of the bullpen and maybe I’d get a few chances to start,” said the 21-year-old. “I never thought my season would turn out like this.”
Injuries to the Cyclones’ other starters thrust Owen into the starting rotation, where allowed only 51 hits in 72-1/3 innings, holding the opposition to a microscopic .197 batting average.
If that wasn’t enough, he’s been the team’s big-game pitcher all season. Throwing six innings of shutout ball against the Yankees on Aug. 20, Owen single-handedly halted a two-game losing streak and put the Clones back on track to take the McNamara Division over their hated rivals.
Brooklyn skipper Edgar Alfonzo has, naturally, been pleased.
“He worked extremely hard to become the ace of this staff,” said Alfonzo. “He came to this team with a great attitude and was ready to win.”
Of course, this Chesterfield, S.C. native isn’t one to gloat about his year.
“I’ve just tried to make sure the organization knew how good I could pitch when I had the chance,” he said. “Luckily, I got the chance and I’ve played my best. I haven’t given them a reason to take me out yet.”
