When the Orioles drafted Adam Loewen with the fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft, they envisioned the left-hander being at the top of their rotation for years. Now, they are left with the fleeting hope that he will eventually contribute somewhere in their lineup.
Attempting to make a comeback after elbow surgery last year, Loewen re-fractured his elbow, ending his career as a pitcher after 29 career outings. Loewen, 24, was told by doctors that if he decided on another surgery - he had a screw inserted in his elbow last June - he likely wouldn't be able to return to the mound for another year and a half.
Rather than rehabilitating again, Loewen is expected to report to the instructional league this fall and try to reinvent himself as an outfielder. Loewen hasn't faced live pitching regularly since 2003, when he played first base for Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., batting .353 with a homer and 38 RBIs in 45 games.
"If I did choose the other path of pitching, it would be a long road with no clear ending," said Loewen, who pitched in seven games this season, starting four of them. He last pitched July 6 against the Texas Rangers, leaving the game after feeling elbow pain. "This is not a simple decision, but it's right there in front of me and it was easy to make for me.
"It was devastating news, but I've always had a backup plan, so I'm sure I didn't take it as hard as anybody else would and as much as I love pitching and love playing for the Orioles, I still have a chance to do that," he said. "It's going to be a long and tough road, but I did it one time; hopefully I can do it again. I know what to expect and I think I'm mature enough where I can do this, and I'm still young enough to where I can do this."
The news is still a big blow for the Orioles, who had counted Loewen as one of their main building blocks in the rebuilding process. Loewen started the season as the Orioles' No. 4 starter mostly because the club wanted to ease him in after his surgery last year.
"It's hard," Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail said. "Forty percent of our rotation that we started with has already gone off the map and we're just passing the All-Star break. That aspect of it just goes to reiterate ... you never have enough pitching. Pitching is a priority, but that decision has been made for us. We have a good Plan B, and that's what we're going to do."
