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By BILL SAVAGE; Times Leader Sports Correspondent
Wednesday, July 12, 1995     Page: 2B

MOOSIC — At first, there may be a slight bit of resentment among Red
Barons fans when they see Eric Owens run out to second base for the National
League affiliates’ team in tonight’s Triple-A All-Star Game.
   
After all, the Indianapolis Indians’ infielder is starting while Kevin
Jordan, the popular Red Barons’ second baseman, waits his turn to get into the
game.
    But if the local fans want to see the NL team win the game for the first
time since 1992, they’ll probably enjoy seeing the Cincinnati Reds’ prospect
as the home team’s leadoff hitter and second baseman.
   
“I guess that happens every year, wherever you go,” he said. “I’m sure it’s
not the first time it’s happened.”
   
Owens, a 24-year old from Virginia, is hitting .340 with 10 home runs, 49
RBI and 22 stolen bases. And, to be honest, he’s not just starting ahead of
Jordan, but also Kevin Castleberry, Dave Hajek, Todd Haney and Erik Johnson on
a team laden with second basemen.
   
Owens is in his fourth professional season and he’s had a pretty good
career in every way since being drafted in the fourth round in 1992.
   
That’s why he loves playing in Cincinnati’s organization.
   
“I like it a lot because I’ve been in the playoffs every year I’ve been in
the minor leagues,” he said. “We won it all in Rookie and Single-A ball, and
we were in the playoffs at Double-A last year.”
   
Oh, and the Reds have one of the best records in the major leagues at the
All-Star Break.
   
“I think it’s a great organization to be in,” he said.
   
But what about the trouble he’s sure to have breaking into that powerful
Cincinnati lineup?
   
“Eventually, things will happen, trades or players will price themselves
out of the game,” he said.
   
Owens, who hit .254 with 38 stolen bases at Chattanooga last year, was
All-State in both football and baseball as a high school athlete in Virginia.
   
He played both sports at Division III Ferrum College, but his chances at
being a wide receiver in the NFL seemed to fall behind those of playing
baseball professionally.
   
“I just kept progressing in baseball, and I played football because I
enjoyed it a lot,” he said. “We played a pretty good quality of football in
that area.”
   
A guy who lives not far from that area, Richmond manager Grady Little, made
Owens the leadoff hitter when he made up the NL affiliates lineup card for
tonight’s game.
   
“I think I’m a better second place hitter, that’s probably my big league
status, as a second hitter,” he said. “But I like hitting leadoff, that’s
great.
   
“Hopefully I can get things started and help us win the game.”
   
Owens has 96 career stolen bases in about three-and-a-half seasons. He
played third base at Chattanooga last year and also played for Peoria (with
Red Barons pitching coach Jim Wright) in the Arizona Fall League.
   
In Arizona, he opened up his stance and he thinks that has helped him put
up the impressive numbers he brings into tonight’s game.
   
“It’s made a big difference,” he said.
   
Former Red Baron Nick Capra and Albuquerque’s Ron Coomer — the winner of
Tuesday’s home run derby — are the other third basemen on the NL team.
   
So Owens could move over there and let some of those other guys play
second.
   
“I’m not limiting myself,” he said. “I can play second, third, do a lot of
things.”