Harrisburg pitcher Andrew Kown sat with his new teammates in the right field visitor’s bullpen at Jerry Uht Park as they prepared to begin their pre-game stretching routine 2½ hours before the start of Monday’s game against the SeaWolves.
Less than two weeks ago, Kown was ready to come off the Erie SeaWolves’ disabled list, hopeful that his right shoulder strain problem was behind him and eager to put up some good numbers the remainder of the season.
Kown’s 1½-year tenure with the SeaWolves ended on July 22 when the Tigers gave the 6-foot 7-inch, 210-pound native of Marietta, Ga., his unconditional release. Kown, 25, signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals last week and was assigned to the Senators, who are visiting Erie for a three-game series through Wednesday.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Erie and I have nothing but good memories from here, not all of them pitching, but I enjoyed the town and what it had for me,’’ Kown said. “I’m glad to be back in whatever capacity it’s in. The Nationals are giving me a shot to put numbers up in a league I was in, so I can’t ask for much more than that.’’
With the SeaWolves this season, Kown was 5-9 with a 5.38 ERA in 17 games. Before his release, Kown spent two weeks on Erie’s disabled list due to a right shoulder strain.
“It was unfortunate I did get released because I enjoyed my time with the Tigers,’’ Kown said. “I was spotty here and there putting up some good numbers, and I was hoping to put a good rest of the season together with Erie, but they had to make some decisions and I was the guy to go. I would have loved a chance to come back out and prove myself after being on the disabled list.’’
Kown’s release from Erie was just one of 23 roster moves the SeaWolves have undergone since the Eastern League all-star break.
SeaWolves manager Tom Brookens said the Tigers felt Kown would top out at Double-A.
“This is a tough game,’’ Brookens said. “It wasn’t that he’s not a decent pitcher. He certainly is, but at this point in our organization, we decided to go a different direction.
With all the movement we’ve had, and we have some good arms down in Lakeland, when we feel this guy tops out at maybe the Double-A level, then they get moved on to make room for some of the new arms coming up to see what they can do. I wish him all the best. I don’t want him beating us by any means, but I hope he gets to the big leagues with the Nationals.’’
Kown has inherited bullpen duty with the Senators. He made his debut with them on Saturday against the Akron Aeros and threw one inning, allowing two runs.
“I did have some other interests, but the Nationals seemed like my best shot at getting right back to Double-A and having a chance to compete,’’ Kown said.
Kown went 6-8 with a 4.13 ERA in 27 games (19 starts) with the SeaWolves in 2007.
“I don’t know that much about him, but we’re going to get him some work and he’s going to be in the middle of the bullpen for us,’’ Harrisburg manager John Stearns said. “He’s a key guy and he’s going to be fine.’’