Tampa Bay Devil Rays Draft Owen in 16th Round of the 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft
Senior lefty led Toros in K's; unsure of starting league in pro career
June 7, 2006

Carson CA – Senior Ryan Owen will get the opportunity to continue his baseball career at the professional level next season as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays chose the southpaw in the 16th round in last night’s 2006 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Owen was the 469th overall selection.

Ryan Owen says that “Playing pro ball is all I ever wanted to do.” He's getting his wish as Tampa Bay chose the southpaw in the 16th round of the MLB draft. File photo courtesy Michael Foo

“Playing pro ball is all I ever wanted to do,” begins an excited Owen. “All the hard work I put in has paid off.”

Owen will meet with the Devil Rays tomorrow to sign his contract, and then will be sent to either the West Virginia rookie league or report to New York to play in the Single-A Short Season at the end of the week.

“This was definitely a reward at the end of an endurance race for him,” begins CSUDH baseball head coach George Wing. “He has grown as a person and pitcher in his four years here and is ready for this next step. He has handled all the pressure of the high expectations placed on him when he got here, and that will help him at the next level. He is a quality individual and we are all very proud of him.”

This season, the 6’4” lefty led the Toros on the mound with 86 strikeouts, while compiling an 8-2 record in 81.0 innings of work against only 17 walks, good for his first-career 2nd-team All-CCAA honor and CCAA Player of the Week honors for the week of April 24-30. In his career, the Torrance native recorded 209 strikeouts in 278.0 innings pitched.

Overall, there were 1,502 players selected during the two-day draft, with Owen being the only CCAA player selected on day one of the draft.

Other CCAA players drafted were:

• Cal State San Bernardino - Kevan Kelley - LHP/OF – 22nd round – 665th overall - Florida Marlins
• Cal State San Bernardino - Rylan Hanks - LHP – 23rd round – 695th overall - Florida Marlins
• Cal State L.A. - Derrick Loop - LHP – 23rd round – 701st overall - Cleveland Indians
• Cal Poly Pomona - Anthony Esquer - C – 24th round - 714th overall - Cincinnati Reds
• Cal State San Bernardino - Michael Rocco - RHP – 24th round – 735th overall - Chicago White Sox
• Cal State San Bernardino - Doug Brandt - LHP - 43rd round - 1,300th overall - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim