D-backs option Chris Owings as Andrew Chafin returns
Aug 3, 2018, 1:51 PM | Updated: 2:23 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte (4) consoles Chris Owings (16) after Marte scored and Owings was thrown out at home on a single by Deven Marrero during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, June 27, 2018, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
Utility man Chris Owings was optioned on Friday as the Arizona Diamondbacks took reliever Andrew Chafin off the paternity leave list.
Entering the season behind shortstop Nick Ahmed and second baseman Ketel Marte, Owings expected to be used all over the field as a depth option. But the move to Triple-A Reno comes as Owings’ offensive struggles haven’t turned around 110 games into the 2018 season.
Owings, who will join Triple-A Reno, is slashing .198/.267/.287 this year, all of which are career worsts since entering the majors in 2013.
He has three home runs and 19 RBI in 90 appearances despite producing career bests of 12 dingers and 51 RBI a year ago.
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The lack of an everyday role has put Owings in right field for 38 games, center field for 12 and left field for three games.
A natural middle infielder, Owings only played at second and third nine games each without an appearance at shortstop this season. The 26-year-old has made 25 more appearances as a pinch-hitter.
The D-backs placed Chafin on the paternity leave list on Tuesday and recalled Silvino Bracho to take his spot on the roster. Bracho has since been sent back to Triple-A as reliever Brad Ziegler joined the roster after being acquired from the Miami Marlins at the trade deadline.
Arizona expects to use the lefty Chafin as a bridge setup reliever with more flexibility moving forward thanks to the deadline acquisitions of Ziegler and Jake Diekman. He has posted a 1.67 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 11 holds this season.
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