Blue Jays Give Minor League Deal To Loewen

Sep 16, 2011; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays pinch runner Adam Loewen (39) looks on from second base against the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Yankees 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY SportsThe Toronto Blue Jays have signed outfielder Adam Loewen to a minor-league deal.The deal is good for one season and does not currently include an invitation to spring training with the major league club.

Loewen was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles with the fourth overall pick of the 2002 draft as a pitcher, and reached the major leagues with the Orioles at a 22-year-old, making 19 starts in 2006. However, the 6’6″ left-hander failed to capture his potential and injuries forced him away from a pitching career.

After being released by the Orioles, Loewen signed with the Blue Jays in 2009 and assigned to Dunedin to develop as a positional player. He would reach Triple-A Las Vegas in 2011 and hit .306 with 17 home runs and 85 RBI in the PCL, forcing a promotion to the big leagues when rosters expanded at the end of the season. In 14 games with the Blue Jays, Loewen hit .188 with 1 home run and 4 RBI in 32 at-bats. In those 32 at-bats, Loewen stuck out 13 times.

Loewen was granted free agency following the 2011 season and signed with the New York Mets, spending most of his season with the Buffalo Bisons, at the time the Triple-A affiliate of the Mets. He did not see Major League action in 2012.

The 28-year-old first baseman/outfielder will now make attempt his second stint with the Blue Jays organization, and most likely, will begin the year in a familiar place; Buffalo. He will serve as organizational depth should an injury arise, but Loewen is not likely to make any sort of impact at the Major League level.