Hunter Owen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	10
ERA	9
WHIP	2.3
BB/9	9.9
SO/9	12.6

Full name Hunter Scot Owen
Born 01/30/2002 in Portland, ME
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 261 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Vanderbilt
Drafted in the 4th round (106th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2023 (signed for $631,700).

View Draft Report

School: Vanderbilt Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 55.

Owen is a massive lefthander with a 6-foot-6, 261-pound frame who took a big step forward from his 2021 to 2022 seasons. After struggling with control as a freshman, Owen posted a 2.05 ERA over 26.2 innings and lowered his walk rate from 16.7% to 7.1%. He continued to pitch well in 2023 and posted a 3.52 ERA through 12 starts and 64 innings, with a 28.9% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate. He throws from a three-quarter slot and has a bit of a crossfire landing that could add some deception. Owen sits 92-94 mph with his fastball and has been up to 97. The pitch has solid riding life and he’s throwing it for strikes at a 70% clip this spring. His go-to secondary is a plus slider in the mid 80s that occasionally looks like a cutter and has generated nearly a 50% whiff rate. He’ll also mix in an upper-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup—both of which are fringy to average offerings. Owen’s size, stuff and above-average control make him an appealing starter prospect and one of the best college lefthanders in a class that’s lacking at the demographic, but he missed time down the stretch with shoulder soreness and his health status could complicate his draft stock.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Owen’s junior year performance at Vanderbilt along with the dearth of good lefthanders in the class increased his draft stock, but concerns with a shoulder issue caused him to drop to the fourth round, where the Royals signed the burly southpaw for $631,700. He was shut down post-signing due to shoulder soreness and finally debuted at High-A Quad Cities in 2024. He pitched in 23 games with a 4.24 ERA, 1.196 WHIP, and a 7.5% walk rate.

Scouting Report: Owen relies most often on a 90-94 mph four-seam fastball that touches 96, with his high three-quarters slot giving the heater good carry. He throws the fastball for strikes to set up his breaking balls. His best secondary pitch is an above-average 82-87 mph short slider with darting action that he commands well. His 72-77 mph curveball with gloveside movement got a bit softer as the year went on and he’ll need to add more power to it moving forward. His fringy 82-86 mph changeup has natural sink. Owen uses a simple delivery with medium effort and gets plus extension on his pitches.

The Future: After a full season in High-A, Owen will move up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2025. He has the look of a big-bodied back-of-the-rotation starter or multi-inning reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50.

Draft Prospects

School: Vanderbilt Source: 4YR

Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade:50/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Curveball: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 55.

Owen is a massive lefthander with a 6-foot-6, 261-pound frame who took a big step forward from his 2021 to 2022 seasons. After struggling with control as a freshman, Owen posted a 2.05 ERA over 26.2 innings and lowered his walk rate from 16.7% to 7.1%. He continued to pitch well in 2023 and posted a 3.52 ERA through 12 starts and 64 innings, with a 28.9% strikeout rate and 6.5% walk rate. He throws from a three-quarter slot and has a bit of a crossfire landing that could add some deception. Owen sits 92-94 mph with his fastball and has been up to 97. The pitch has solid riding life and he’s throwing it for strikes at a 70% clip this spring. His go-to secondary is a plus slider in the mid 80s that occasionally looks like a cutter and has generated nearly a 50% whiff rate. He’ll also mix in an upper-70s curveball and a mid-80s changeup—both of which are fringy to average offerings. Owen’s size, stuff and above-average control make him an appealing starter prospect and one of the best college lefthanders in a class that’s lacking at the demographic, but he missed time down the stretch with shoulder soreness and his health status could complicate his draft stock.