White Sox option Owens to Charlotte

ST. PETERSBURG -- Prior to Friday night's game against the Rays, the White Sox reinstated outfielder Jerry Owens from the 15-day disabled list and optioned him back to Triple-A Charlotte, where he had been on a rehab assignment.

The 27-year-old was placed on the disabled list on March 29, retroactive to March 24, with a partial tear of his right adductor. He injured his groin in an intrasquad game Feb. 25, and the injury flared up again while Owens was running the bases in a Spring Training game on March 23.

In the six games Owens played on a rehab assignment, he batted .280 with three stolen bases for the Knights.

As a rookie in 2007, Owens hit .267 with one home run and 17 RBIs. His 32 stolen bases was tops among Major League rookies and ranked eighth in the American League.

Although Owens' speed as a leadoff batter will be missed (the Sox have only two stolen bases in 15 games), manager Ozzie Guillen has stressed the importance of on-base percentage instead. With the move, Nick Swisher will remain in center field and Carlos Quentin figures to continue seeing significant playing time in left.