NewsProspect ties Cal League record
McOwen extends hitting streak to 35 games
By Mason Kelley / Special to MLB.com
06/28/09 2:49 AM ET
The worst thing that could happen to a hot hitter is a few days off.After a three-day break for the Carolina/California League All-Star game, High Desert's James McOwen felt the rust start to creep in. Even though he slapped three hits in his first game back, he didn't feel right. Then, on Friday, he didn't get a hit until his final at-bat in the bottom of the eighth inning.
McOwen found his swing Saturday during batting practice and quickly extended his hitting streak to 35 games, tying the California League record in the Mavericks' 16-8 victory over the Bakersfield Blaze.
The Florida native joins Bakersfield's Chris Davis (2007) and Modesto's Brent Gates (1992) as the only Cal Leaguers to hit in 35 straight games.
"It's going to be something that's tough to duplicate," McOwen said. "Anything over 15, 20 games is tough to get. At 35, that's a quarter of the season, exactly. It's a good feeling to be able to do something like that on your way up."
After waiting until the last minute Friday, the 23-year-old doubled in the first inning one night later to spark 3-for-5 performance. He also drove in a pair of runs and scored twice for the Mavericks.
Click for the Minors' longest hitting streaks >
| Streaking in the Minors | ||||
| The longest hitting streaks in the Minors in the past 20 years: | ||||
# | Player | Team (League) | Year | |
43 | Brandon Watson | Columbus (IL) | 2007 | |
38 | Mitch Hilligoss | Charleston (SAL) | 2007 | |
37 | Joey Cora | Las Vegas (PCL) | 1989 | |
35 | James McOwen | High Desert (CAL) | 2009 | |
35 | Chris Davis | Bakersfield (CAL) | 2007 | |
35 | Brent Gates | Modesto (CAL) | 1992 | |
35 | Scott Seabol | Greensboro (SAL) | 1999 | |
33 | Mat Gamel | Brevard County (FSL) | 2007 | |
33 | Corey Myers | Lancaster (CAL) | 2002 | |
32 | Chris Valaika | Billings (PIO) | 2006 | |
32 | Dave Doster | Fresno (PCL) | 2004 | |
32 | Lance Downing | Diamondbacks (AZL) | 1997 | |
32 | Robert Fick | West Michigan (MWL) | 1997 | |
31 | Casey Blake | Dunedin (FSL) | 1998 | |
31 | Jeremy Carr | Wichiga (TEX) | 1997 | |
31 | Kevin Hooper | Calgary (PCL) | 2002 | |
30 | Quintin Berry | Clearwater (FSL) | 2008 | |
30 | Doug Brady | Nashville (AA) | 1995 | |
30 | Ricardo Nanita | Great Falls (PIO) | 2003 | |
30 | Jose Tolentino | Tucson (PCL) | 1990 | |
"When it happens early, it's a lot of pressure off, just something to have fun with after," the former sixth-round Draft pick said.
McOwen insists the hitting streak is having little impact on the way he plays. Since he knows it's going to end eventually, he's trying to make it as much fun as possible for himself and his teammates.
If he starts a game 0-for-2, he'll say, "Uh-oh, it's getting down to crunch time."
"Yeah it is," they reply. "You better get it done."
So far, he has.
Throughout his short professional career, McOwen can remember games where he really felt like he was in a groove at the plate. But he's never felt this comfortable for such a long period of time.
"I don't think I've ever put together 35 games like this before," he said.
Davis, the last person to reach the 35-game plateau, is now the Texas Rangers' first baseman and, while he would like to use this streak as a springboard to that level of success, McOwen remains content to wait until the Mariners decide to move him to another level.
"It's hard to predict the future and see where you're going to go," he said. "I don't like to think too far ahead. That is good company to be in, though."
After another solid performance, McOwen is batting .335 with 10 doubles, five triples, two homers and 39 RBIs in 60 games. In fact, he's only gone hitless on eight occasions. Despite all the success, however, he's trying not to take himself too seriously.
"It's just something to have fun with," he said.
Mason Kelley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
