Phillies: Alec Bohm, Ethan Lindow win Paul Owens Award
The Phillies announced their 2019 Paul Owens Award winners, and one was a big surprise.
Phillies prospects Alec Bohm and Ethan Lindow were named the 2019 Paul Owens Award winners, given to the organization’s top minor league player and pitcher.
Bohm, universally ranked as the organization’s top prospect and potential 2020 starting third baseman, was in no way a surprising recipient.
Drafted third overall in 2018 out of Wichita State, Bohm hit .305 with 30 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, 80 RBI, 76 runs scored, 57 walks and six stolen bases in 125 combined games this year between Single-A Lakewood, High Single-A Clearwater, and Double-A Reading.
The 23-year-old led Phillies prospects in on-base percentage (.378), slugging percentage (.518) and OPS, and was tied for first in home runs.
Lindow was a surprising recipient given the success and chatter surrounding Spencer Howard.
Through 26 games (16 starts) for Single-A Lakewood and High Single-A Clearwater Lindow went 5-4 with a 2.52 ERA (31 ER, 110.2 IP), 1.01 WHIP and 119 strikeouts.
Neither MLB Pipeline nor Baseball America ranks Lindow among the Phillies top-30 prospects.
Howard would have been an excellent choice for the award, although he did miss all but 15 games due to injury. Despite that, Howard had a 2.03 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 71 innings between the Gulf Coast League, Clearwater, and Reading.
The award, named after former scout, manager, and general manager Paul Owens, doesn’t necessarily go to the best, most anticipated prospect in the organization, but instead the top performers.
Next. Phillies need a bridge to Bohm. dark
Past winners include Rhys Hoskins, Scott Kingery, Dylan Cozens, Domonic Brown, Cole Hamels, and Mike Zagurski, so it goes to show not all of the top prospects come out on top in the end.