FORT MYERS — During the first spring training start of his underdog bid to crack the Red Sox starting rotation, Henry Owens pumped in one of his signature changeups to Minnesota Twins No. 3 hitter Kennys Vargas.
The switch-hitting Vargas, batting from the right side, fouled it off, slicing it into the stands on the first-base side. He was late. On a changeup.
It was the reverse of what’s supposed to happen, as if he was thinking fastball all the way, then took a defensive swing at the very last second.
Owens throws in the low 90s, barely touching 93 mph last year when he often became too reliant on his off-speed offerings.