Owings confident he'll return to diamond
Connor Owings and his family had been preparing for the eventuality for some time, but that didn't make it easier to swallow in the months before what may have otherwise been his first full season of professional baseball.It began during the summer of 2012, when the younger brother of Major
Connor Owings and his family had been preparing for the eventuality for some time, but that didn't make it easier to swallow in the months before what may have otherwise been his first full season of professional baseball.
It began during the summer of 2012, when the younger brother of Major Leaguer Chris Owings was preparing for his freshman year at Coastal Carolina University. While visiting the school during the summer, Owings fell ill, which was serious enough to bring him home to Gilbert, South Carolina. Although he felt better being home, a vanishing appetite and a general feeling of uneasiness prompted a visit to the doctor, who noticed that the 18-year-old was severely dehydrated. Owings ultimately had a kidney scan.
His life would never be the same.
"It really was a few years in the making," Owings said. "When they checked my kidneys, they found that my right one was normal but my left kidney had never fully developed and was not working at all. I had one functioning kidney, which was completely overworked."
Owings was diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS secondary), a disease that attacks the kidneys' filtering units, which can lead to permanent kidney damage or even full-blown failure. It's the same condition that affected former NBA stars Alonzo Mourning and Sean Elliott. The diagnosis hit the aspiring ballplayer and his family hard.
"I was technically at Stage 4 kidney failure," he said. "I was put on a transplant list right away and was moved up towards the top because I was so young. The doctors said it was a rare case, because of my age and because I was in such good shape. I played baseball and I was a quarterback [at Gilbert High School]. I was always very active and never sick, so it was a big surprise."
A special bond
Because of his relative health, doctors told him to hold off on a transplant until his working kidney dropped below 15 percent functionality. On the advice of medical professionals, Owings even turned down several potential donors over the course of the next few years, during which time he continued to excel on the diamond at Coastal Carolina.
But it was during his sophomore season that Owings might have gotten his biggest win. Owings' mother, Sherri, who had a matching blood type, was approved as a donor on April 1, 2015. Suddenly, the bond between mother and son took on a whole new meaning.
"They initially told my mom her blood pressure was too high," Owings said. "But she wanted to be a match for me so bad. She played volleyball and softball at Mercyhurst College [now University] and was still in great shape, but she changed her eating habits and worked hard to make it possible. When we got the approval, it was a great moment for us. It was special to me. To see how hard my mom wanted to be that match for me ... it was really something else. I'm sure just about any mom would do it for their child, but when it comes down to the reality of it, it's a really, really big deal."
Even with his mom available as a donor, Owings continued to wait on the advice of his doctors, who said there was no risk in holding off if his working kidney was still functioning above the prescribed threshold. His health certainly didn't impact his baseball skills. Owings hit .308/.409/.492 with 29 homers and 146 RBIs in his four years for the Chanticleers. He saved his best for last, compiling a .357/.464/.647 slash line with 16 home runs during Coastal Carolina's run to the school's first NCAA National Championship in 2016.
The D-backs came calling in the 34th round of that year's Draft, enabling Owings to become the third member of his family to play for the organization -- 26-year-old Chris was drafted back in 2009 and Kyle, four years older than Connor, pitched in the system in 2012. The younger Owings sibling signed quickly and was assigned to Class A Short Season Hillsboro, where he batted .175 with a homer and eight RBIs that summer.
He was back in the Northwest League to begin 2017 and earned a promotion to Class A Kane County for the season's final month. He struggled to a .202/.307/.248 slash line in 32 games across the two levels and was released a few weeks after the season ended.
"I just didn't play very well and sometimes that happens, but it had nothing to do with my health," the 24-year-old outfielder said. "I got some opportunities and didn't take advantage. There are certainly no hard feelings. But on the brighter side, maybe it's part of the plan for me. Knowing that I would be forced to undergo transplant surgery sooner than later would have really put [Arizona] in a tough spot, and I would have felt bad about that."
A dream on hold
Despite his release, Owings had visions of playing in 2018, either with another affiliated team or on an independent circuit. However, during one of his routine checkups, doctors finally told him the inevitable was at hand. On Feb. 27, Owings and his mother were admitted to the Medical University of South Carolina in preparation for the surgery, which took place the next day.
"I'm usually very calm and under control," Owings said. "But when I went in for surgery, I was scared and not really for myself. This wasn't just some basic operation. They were taking an organ out of my mother and putting it inside of me. I think the worst part was that in situations like this, the donor undergoes the surgery first, so it was a rough few hours for me waiting to hear about my mom. Thankfully, everything went smoothly and the recovery process started right away."
That process includes going for walks with his mother, light jogging, yoga and some easy laps in his family's swimming pool. Owings heads to Charleston every other week to have blood drawn, as doctors continue to monitor his new kidney. All things have checked out positively for both mother and son as they approach the three-month anniversary of the surgery.
"We're both doing great," Owings said. "My mom has been back at work for about three weeks, and we spend a lot of time together. Everything is basically getting back to normal, except for not being able to get out there on the field and play. The biggest thing for me is trying to put things into perspective and understanding where my body is health-wise. It's tough not being able to play."
Connor Owings hopes that a return to the diamond isn't far off. (Jared Ravich/MiLB.com)
Even so, Owings can't escape baseball, nor does he want to. He watches his brother with the D-backs on television nightly and keeps in close touch with two former college teammates -- Mike Morrison and Zach Remillard -- who are currently playing for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem in the White Sox system.
"I'm all about baseball, even if I can't play," Owings said. "I stay up late watching my brother and I'm always checking the Minor League Baseball app to see how my [former D-backs] teammates are doing. I've gone down to Myrtle Beach a few times to see Mike and Zach when they're in town.
"It is tough in a way. Watching them, I remember that it was me on those fields a year ago, but I understand that getting healthy is the most important thing for me right now. I love baseball more than anything, and that's why I'm going to keep doing all I can to get back out there. If I didn't think I could, I'd be up front about it, but I am 100 percent confident I can continue chasing my dream."
The journey back
Less than three months removed from surgery, Owings understands that a return to the field won't be in the cards for some time.
"My brother [Chris] taught me that you need to set minor goals to reach your major ones," Owings said. "It's the same thing for me now. First, I need to get back into shape, then get back into the weight room, then the batting cage and hopefully find an opportunity to play. I'd love to be able to get back out there with someone next winter, but we'll see. My body can only do what it can do, but I want to get out there so bad. Every now and then, I'll take some dry swings [without a bat] in my room. Sometimes I feel fine, other times I feel pain and I'm like, 'Come on, man! Can't you just let me get back on the field?' But I know it's a process that I need to follow."
Despite the steps in front of him, the endgame remains the same for Owings. He's not about to let a kidney transplant keep him from continuing his pursuit of reaching the Majors.
"It's my childhood dream to play in the bigs," he said. "That's what I'm focused on doing. I'm on a different path than most guys right now, but it doesn't change my feelings about it. I've played pro ball. I've had the taste. If I truly didn't think I was good enough, I'd let it go. I know that I'm going to have to work even harder. I'm not expecting a team to give me a chance because of sympathy. I need to prove that I have what it takes, and I think I will, once I'm able to."
Though his future may be unwritten, simply having a path toward achieving his goals all stems from one very important person.
"The night before the surgery, my college coach [Gary Gilmore] called me in the hospital," Owings said. "I told him I was scared, and he said something that really hit home and calmed me down. He told me that by doing this, my mother had an opportunity to give me life for a second time. Imagine having that chance and being so openly willing to do it. It opened my eyes to how truly special that moment was. It showed how much she loves me."
Michael Avallone is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @MavalloneMiLB.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between