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While the Forest City Owls have only been around since 2008, they have been consistently successful in the Coastal Plain League. The Owls have won two Petitt Cup Championships and advanced to the semifinals in each of their five years, all along the organization has included many talented players. With the recent call-up of RHP Josh Edgin to the New York Mets, Forest City has its first MLB alumni, and today we take a look at several other former Owls who are currently in the minor leagues.
3B Kevin Mahoney (2008) -Mahoney is currently in the New York Yankees farm system, recently finishing up his season with the Double-A Trenton Thunder. He batted .261 with nine home runs and 30 RBIs. He was also selected to the 2012 Eastern League All-Star Game. Mahoney was drafted by the Yankees in the 23rd round of the 2009 MLB First Round Player Entry Draft out of Canisius College.
OF Will Skinner (2009 & 2010) -Skinner was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Middle Tennessee St. He is currently playing for the Single-A Rome Braves of the South Atlantic League, where he batted .251 with seven homeruns and 39 RBIs.
RHP David Walters (2008) -Walters signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a non-drafted free agent in 2009 out of Francis Marion, and has since continued to fend off higher drafted players to make an impact in their farm system. He spent two seasons with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds, earning their closer role in 2011 and posting 30 saves. He was then promoted to the high Class A Frederick Keys where he went 2-6 with a 3.78 ERA and 10 saves in 2012.
RHP Josh Edgin (2008 & 2009) -Edgin became the first Forest City Owl to make it the major leagues when he made his pitching debut with the New York Mets in July. He has since made the most of his opportunity, coming out of the bullpen in 12 games and posting a 2.25 ERA to go along with a 1-0 record. Edgin has also struck out 19 batters in just 12.0 innings pitched. He was drafted in the 30th round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Francis Marion. He started off 2012 with the Double-AA Binghamton Mets for a short stint, before being called up to the Triple-AAA Buffalo Bisons, and now, the New York Mets.
C Pratt Maynard (2009) - Maynard hit .318 with four homeruns and 38 RBIs during the season for Forest City, and he was a key contributor on the Owls 51-9 team that ended the season as National Champions. He was drafted out of NC State by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 3rd round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft. He began the 2012 season with the Great Lakes Loons, the Dodgers low Single-A affiliate. There he hit .252 with three homeruns and 33 RBIs before his recent call up to their high Single-A, the Rancho Cucomonga Quakes.
RHP Ryan Arrowood (2009 & 2010) -Arrowood put together a terrific two year career with the Owls as a starting pitcher, finishing his career in Forest City with a 12-4 record and a 1.93 ERA. This was highlighted by a 10-0 season in 2009 where he posted a 1.88 ERA and held opposing batters to a .204 average. In 2012 he was drafted Colorado Rockies in the 28th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Appalachian State, and he was sent to low Single-A with the Tri-City Dust Devils. For the season he is 3-1 with a 1.72 ERA and has struck out 48 batters in just 41.0 innings pitched.
RHP Chase Boruff (2010) -Signed as a NDFA with the Kansas City Royals in 2010 out of Carson-Newman, Boruff has found a niche for himself as a relief pitcher. In 2011 he went 4-1 with a 2.30 ERA for the low Single-A Kane City Cougars. He has called up to the high Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks and transitioned as a starting pitcher. He has struggled to make the move though, posting a 1-8 record with a 7.48 ERA in 2012.
SS Grant Buckner (2010) -Buckner was drafted out of West Virginia in the 26th round of the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft by the Chicago White Sox. He hit .311 in rookie ball before being called up to the Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators, where he has hit .245 with five homeruns and 54 RBIs. A collegiate shortshop, Buckner has been moved all over, playing 3B and all over the outfield.
