Chris Owings Bids Farewell to Baseball After 16-Year Journey

After sixteen years of dedication to America’s pastime, versatile major league player Chris Owings has announced his retirement through a heartfelt Instagram post. At 34, Owings steps away from a career that took him through seven major league organizations and showcased his remarkable adaptability on the field. “After 16 years in professional baseball, it’s time to hang up the spikes,” Owings wrote in his farewell message. “The game has given me more than I could’ve ever imagined — lifelong friendships, unforgettable memories, and lessons that will stay with me forever.” His announcement marks the end of a journey that began when the Arizona Diamondbacks selected him 41st overall in the 2009 MLB Draft from Gilbert High School in South Carolina, setting him on a path that would take him across the country as he carved out a role as one of baseball’s most valuable utility players.

Owings’ major league career spanned nine seasons and six different teams, with his most productive years coming in a Diamondbacks uniform. After being named to the Futures Game in 2013 and making his major league debut that September, Owings quickly established himself as a consensus Top-100 prospect heading into the 2014 season. His breakout came in 2015 when he led the National League in triples with 11 despite appearing in only 119 games. That same season, he posted career-best numbers with a .277 batting average, .731 OPS (88 OPS+), and 21 stolen bases. Though Owings never developed into a star player, his combination of speed on the basepaths and defensive versatility made him a valuable asset throughout his major league tenure, which included stops with the Kansas City Royals, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, and Pittsburgh Pirates after his six seasons in Arizona.

What made Owings particularly valuable to his teams was his remarkable defensive flexibility. Throughout his career, he played seven different positions at the major league level — second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, right field, and even pitcher — essentially everything except first base and catcher. This defensive versatility allowed managers to use him in various roles, whether as a spot starter, defensive replacement, or pinch runner. His willingness to adapt and play wherever needed exemplified the modern utility player in an era where positional flexibility has become increasingly valuable. Though he may not have put up All-Star numbers or commanded headlines, Owings represented the type of player every successful team needs: someone reliable, versatile, and willing to contribute in whatever way benefits the team most.

The final chapter of Owings’ professional journey came in 2024 with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, though he didn’t make it back to the major leagues. After signing a minor league contract with the Dodgers in February, he impressed during spring training with a solid .269/.424/.462 slash line across 14 Cactus League games. However, he spent the entire season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, where he put together a respectable campaign, hitting .262 with nine home runs and 32 RBIs in 80 games. This performance demonstrated that even in what would be his final professional season, Owings maintained the skills that had kept him in professional baseball for more than a decade and a half. Though he didn’t receive a call-up to the major leagues in his final season, he continued to play with the professionalism and commitment that characterized his entire career.

Looking back at Owings’ career trajectory offers an interesting window into the life of a baseball journeyman. After eight seasons with the Diamondbacks organization that drafted him, Owings played for seven different organizations over his final eight professional years. This period included a brief stint with the New York Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022, though he never received a promotion to the Yankees’ major league roster. This pattern reflects the reality for many professional ballplayers who, despite their talents, often find themselves moving between organizations as they work to extend their careers. Owings’ persistence through these transitions speaks to both his love for the game and his professional resilience, qualities that undoubtedly earned him respect in clubhouses across the country.

As Owings closes this chapter of his life, his Instagram message hints at the optimism with which he’s approaching his post-playing days: “I’m beyond grateful for this journey — and excited for what’s next!” These words encapsulate the perspective of someone who appreciates what baseball has given him while looking forward to new challenges and opportunities. For nearly two decades, baseball was the center of Chris Owings’ professional life — from his days as a high school prospect in South Carolina to his final professional at-bats with Oklahoma City. Though his name may not be enshrined in Cooperstown, his career represents something equally valuable: a testament to persistence, adaptability, and passion for the game. As fans and the baseball community bid farewell to Owings the player, they can appreciate the journey of someone who made the most of every opportunity the game provided and left it with gratitude rather than regret.