August 6, 2015 at 11:49 PM
July Players of the Month: Henry Owens and Kevin Heller
The SoxProspects.com community has voted left-hander Henry Owens (pictured) and outfielder Kevin Heller as the Pitcher and Player of the Month for July.
Owens was nothing short of dominant in the month of July, which prompted his call up to the majors on Aug. 4. He ran away with the vote for Pitcher of the Month, receiving nearly 62-percent of ballots cast. While he only posted a modest 1-2 record, four of his five starts in July were quality starts. He finished with a 2.84 ERA in 31 2/3 innings pitched, while leading the Red Sox farm system with 34 strikeouts. His early-season struggles with walks are a distant memory now, having gone nine straight starts with two or fewer walks. In the month, his WHIP was 1.04 and he held opposing batters to a .210 average. The 23-year-old lefty also did not wilt under the bright spotlight of Yankee Stadium in his pro debut, contrary to what the 13-3 final score suggested. He lasted five-plus innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking one before the Boston bullpen imploded. Owens will reportedly remain in the Boston rotation for the time being.
Heller surprised in the Player of the Month voting, garnering nearly 60-percent of the vote to beat out the red-hot Yoan Moncada and Javier Guerra. Heller, who was moved from Portland to Salem after a rough start, has been a consistent bat for the High A affiliate since then. The 25-year-old posted an impressive .354/.510/.519 slash line in July. He clocked three home runs and drove in 17. The Amherst College grad also scored 11 runs, hit four doubles, stole three bases and walked 19 times. Heller's slash line with Salem in 65 games this season sits at .319/.438/.458.
Photo Credit: Henry Owens by Kelly O'Connor
Owens was nothing short of dominant in the month of July, which prompted his call up to the majors on Aug. 4. He ran away with the vote for Pitcher of the Month, receiving nearly 62-percent of ballots cast. While he only posted a modest 1-2 record, four of his five starts in July were quality starts. He finished with a 2.84 ERA in 31 2/3 innings pitched, while leading the Red Sox farm system with 34 strikeouts. His early-season struggles with walks are a distant memory now, having gone nine straight starts with two or fewer walks. In the month, his WHIP was 1.04 and he held opposing batters to a .210 average. The 23-year-old lefty also did not wilt under the bright spotlight of Yankee Stadium in his pro debut, contrary to what the 13-3 final score suggested. He lasted five-plus innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking one before the Boston bullpen imploded. Owens will reportedly remain in the Boston rotation for the time being.
Heller surprised in the Player of the Month voting, garnering nearly 60-percent of the vote to beat out the red-hot Yoan Moncada and Javier Guerra. Heller, who was moved from Portland to Salem after a rough start, has been a consistent bat for the High A affiliate since then. The 25-year-old posted an impressive .354/.510/.519 slash line in July. He clocked three home runs and drove in 17. The Amherst College grad also scored 11 runs, hit four doubles, stole three bases and walked 19 times. Heller's slash line with Salem in 65 games this season sits at .319/.438/.458.
Photo Credit: Henry Owens by Kelly O'Connor