Owen Ready for Another Magical Season

March 7, 2008   ·   Patrick Hickey, Jr.   ·   Jump to comments

Mets minor leaguer Dylan Owen had perhaps the most unlikely road to superstardom last season, going from a spare part in the bullpen to the Brooklyn Cyclones Ace, winning nine games with a microscopic 1.49 ERA.

Even the team’s coaching staff was surprised how the 2007 tenth round pick performed, as he played a crucial part in the team’s playoff run last season. Nevertheless, they immediately saw that he had the work ethic and drive to succeed in pro ball.

“He has a great make up and works extremely hard. He is the ace of this staff and he’s proved it time and time again this season,” said Cyclones skipper Edgar Alfonzo. “He came to this team with a great attitude and was ready to win.”

Chatting over the phone from his home in Chesterfield, South Carolina, Owen discusses his season last year and what to expect from him in 2008.

DemBrooklynBums.com: Last season, after you were drafted, I asked you what you had planned if a life in professional baseball didn’t pan out. You told me you’d consider being a gym teacher. What are your thoughts on that statement now?

Dylan Owen: I definitely know that I can do it now at that level, but I know it’s going to get tougher at every other level I go to. I’d much rather be a major league ball player than a gym teacher or an athletic director or something like that. My mom always tells me that there weren’t many times when I was a little kid that I didn’t have a baseball in my hand. I always wanted to be a baseball player and that’s how it turned out. I’m living my dream.

DBB: When the season started last year, you weren’t originally in the starting rotation. What do you think will happen this year?

Owen: I think they’ll give me a shot earlier this season based on how I did last year. I think they’ll want me to see how long I can keep this going. I was pretty consistent last season and it wasn’t like I was pitching a good game here and there and then taking a game off every few days, so I think I’ll get my shot to start.

DBB: What do you have to do on the field for that to happen?

I always try to pitch to my strengths. I try and get that first strike and I have three pitches that I can throw for strikes pretty much whenever I want, so that really helps a lot. I try to keep my strikeouts and ground balls up and my walks down, because those walks usually come around to score. When I do that, I’m in good shape.

DBB: After last season, there are expectation for you to continue performing at a high level, what did you do to make sure you were in the type of physical condition to meet those expectations head on?

Owen: I like to work harder every year, no excuses. I ran a little more and worked out a little more than I had before. In college, they tell you not to lift too much, they don’t want you to be too tight, but now, I have to be in a different kind of shape. I’m going to be a lot stronger than I was going to be last season.

DBB: Considering how hard you worked in the offseason, how excited are you to be in camp this year?

Owen: I’m a little more excited than I was last year. Last year, I was more nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. This year I at least know more people and I’m glad. It’s nicer and it’s going to be a great opportunity to earn a spot on a team. I’ve been waiting for an opportunity like this for a long time and I can’t wait to prove myself out on the field.

DBB: How did it feel to be awarded the Sterling Award as the Mets top player in the NY-Penn league, at Shea Stadium last season?

Owen: The field looks the same as ours [Keyspan Park], but when you look around and see all those people, it’s crazy. It was a great feeling.

Photos by Jim Dolan and Daniel Wos.