Jerry Owens was born in Tinseltown, also known as Hollywood. Home of the stars, of the glitz and the glamor.
Growing up, he moved closer to Chavez Ravine, the home of Dodger Stadium, and lived there for five years, before he moved again. This time up north to Valencia, home of the Six Flags Magic Mountain Theme Park; birthplace of “Twilight” actor Taylor Lautner.
In college, Owens played at UCLA in Westwood, and The Master’s College in Santa Clarita.
Where Owens plays baseball now, there’s no Hollywood sign. Little glitz, no glamor.
Owens is an outfielder for Naranjeros de Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League, a winter league, and he’s a long way from home.
“Yeah it’s a little different,” said Owens, laughing. “But that’s what makes it fun.”
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Saturday, Owens was at Kino Stadium, suiting up in his bright-orange Hermosillo jersey, jogging to the outfield in much different circumstances than the last time he was in the Old Pueblo.
Then, it was 2008, the Chicago White Sox were in town for spring training, and Owens was fighting to be manager Ozzie Guillen’s starting center fielder. He was going toe-to-toe with Carlos Quentin, a top prospect, and Brian Anderson, a Canyon del Oro and UA grad.
Until he wasn’t.
Owens was coming off a 2007 season with Chicago where he bated .267 with 32 steals and 44 runs in 93 games. That was, for all intents and purposes, his last cup of coffee with the White Sox.
In the midst of spring training, Owens tore his right shoulder, was sent to the disabled list, and the rest is history.
Quentin won the job, became an All-Star, hitting 36 home runs and 100 RBIs that year, and Owens was left by the wayside. Plagued by injuries, Owens only played in 24 major league games the next two years, and none since.
“If I wrote a book about myself,” Owens said, “the title would be ‘Injuries.’ That was kind of the end of my shot in the big leagues. Carlos Quentin took advantage of the opportunity, and it’s good for him, he has a major league career now. I’m happy for him, it’s just unfortunate.
“I’m on the wrong side of that story,” he added, “but that’s what happens in this game. You live with it, and move on.”
Owens isn’t bitter.
This season, he played in Cancun — and no, he didn’t live at an all-inclusive resort.
But he did play for the Tigres de Quintana Roo, and hit .365 in nine games.
Last year for Hermosillo, Owens won the batting title, hitting .361. Still no major league calls, though.
He’s still playing for a Mexican team, but he’s certainly not stuck there.
Still, getting back to the majors, “that’s my goal,” Owens said. “While I’m here I’m just gonna try and do my best every day and just be a light for some of the younger guys here with my experience. I get to play baseball, which is a blessing.”
Added Alonso Tellez, one of Hermosillo’s coaches: “The young guys here have great talent, but they don’t work a lot. Jerry is a big support for them because he talks to them everyday, he’s a great guy. For me, he’s the best guy here.”
He’s certainly grown up a bit since he was in the Old Pueblo in 2008, and the years before that, dealing with injuries, and the cockiness of being a 26-year-old.
“Walking out to those fields, I feel like I’m (26) again,” Owens said. “I wish I felt like I was (26) when I wake up in the morning. Six years later, I’m a different person as far as baseball goes.
“Now I’m just happy to be out there and playing, and I try to come from a place of humility and I don’t deserve anything. Now is just a blessing to be able to wake up every day and play.”
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