He might seem to be just another pitcher with a high earned run average, languishing in the bullpen of a struggling team, but the Philadelphia Phillies' Adam Loewen is in the major leagues, again -- as a pitcher, again. Those facts alone make his story remarkable.
Loewen was chosen fourth overall by Baltimore in the 2002 draft, two picks before Zack Greinke. A left-hander from a British Columbia high school, Loewen is the highest-drafted player ever from Canada. He reached the major leagues when he was 22 years old.
In three seasons with the Orioles from 2006 to 2008, his statistics did not match his promise. Loewen had 8 victories in 41 games, a 5.46 ERA, nearly 6 walks per 9 innings -- and 2 stress fractures in his elbow.
"Four-and-a-half-inch screw, made of titanium," Loewen said, gesturing to his left elbow recently at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. "It's still in there. I can kind of feel the head of the screw in the back."
Doctors told Loewen, 31, they did not know how long it would take his elbow to recover, if it ever did. In 2009, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays as an outfielder, starting over in Class A. He reached the majors in September 2011, going 6 for 32, with a home run.
But he could not escape the minors with the New York Mets or again with the Blue Jays the next two seasons. His 15 home runs at Class AA did not inspire another team to offer Loewen a contract for 2014, and without a backup career plan, he turned to his arm for another chance.
After five years off from pitching, it responded well enough to earn a tryout with the Phillies. They signed Loewen, who returned to Class A for another climb up the ladder.
Loewen pitched well enough as a minor league starter last season, but has thrived in relief this year. He had a 2.01 ERA in 40 minor league games and earned a promotion three weeks ago. The results have been mixed -- a 6.30 ERA in seven appearances through Friday
"As a pitcher, I always knew it was in there; it was just a matter of staying healthy," he said. "But to make it back up a third time, it's like a third chance. I feel really grateful and blessed that my arm's responded the way it has."
Helmet heist
The high school football season has kicked off around Ohio. But for one team in Columbus, just getting on the field for its season opener proved to be quite a feat.
Four days before the Walnut Ridge Scots were scheduled to take the field, someone made off with 22 helmets from the team's equipment room.
A sports equipment salesman in central Ohio for the Riddell helmet company put in a rush order for replacement helmets and then drove to the factory near Cleveland so that he could get the helmets in time for practice on Wednesday.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that police are looking into the theft.
All of the quick work to replace the helmets paid off as Walnut Ridge won its season opener 14-6 over Watterson High School.
Money for nothing
Vin Scully has announced he will be back for his 67th season broadcasting with the Dodgers.
Wrote Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: "Maybe Vin, 87, is hoping that at some point the Dodgers will treat him like a real member of the team and hand him millions of dollars for doing nothing."
Sports quiz
Since 1960, seven "Jims" have tossed complete-game no-hitters. Name them.
Sports answer
Jim Abbott, Jim Colborn, Jim Bibby, Jim Palmer, Jim Maloney (twice), Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Jim Bunning
Sports on 08/30/2015