D-backs infielder Chris Owings cleared for all baseball activity
Feb 18, 2018, 3:22 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Owings reacts after being hit while trying to bunt during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 30, 2017, in St. Louis. Owings left the game due to injury after the play. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Chris Owings has been cleared for all baseball activities after undergoing two surgeries to repair a broken middle finger.
Manager Torey Lovullo told reporters that the versatile 26-year-old was medically cleared as position players officially reported to Salt River Fields on Sunday.
Monday will be the first full team practice for the D-backs.
Owings fractured his right middle finger on July 30 by taking a pitch to his hand on a bunt attempt. He underwent surgery the following day.
He attempted to return and help Arizona in the playoffs but could not recover. Owings ended up undergoing a second surgery onNov. 4 to “ensure continued proper and complete healing,” according to a team release.
In just 97 games in 2017, Owings put together one of his most productive seasons at the plate, recording a career-high 51 RBI and 12 home runs while batting .268.
Owings split time between shortstop (54 games), second base (21 games) and right field (24 games) last season and enters camp fighting with Nick Ahmed and Ketel Marte for playing time at shortstop.
