BIG CHANGEUP: Adam Loewen, who began his career as an Orioles pitcher (inset), is in a spring training battle to make the Mets as a backup outfielder. (AP; UPI)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Adam Loewen brought long hair and a bearded look to spring training, making him a natural target in the Mets clubhouse.
At a team bowling event earlier this week, reliever Jon Rauch snapped a picture of Loewen and tweeted: “Bowling. So easy, a caveman can do it.”
The Mets hope that goes double for hitting a baseball. The 27-year-old Loewen, a converted pitcher, is trying to make the team as a backup outfielder and primary left-handed bat off the bench.
His main competition is Mike Baxter, but it also is possible the Mets will break camp with neither and venture into the free-agent pool once spring rosters are reduced.
Loewen wants to make it an easy decision for Mets brass. His resume includes the ability to play all three outfield positions and his swing says “raw power.” Nevertheless, he remains largely untested as a major league position player.
Last year, he had 32 at-bats for the Blue Jays, hitting .188 with a homer and four RBIs. But at least it was a return to the majors after abandoning pitching in 2008, when he suffered the second stress fracture in his left elbow in as many seasons with the Orioles.
As a major league pitcher, Loewen was 8-8 with a 5.38 ERA in 35 appearances spread over three seasons. Loewen yesterday said his pitching career seems as if it occurred a lifetime ago.
“Three years ago I made the switch, and it was actually an exciting time for me because I had a new life,” Loewen said. “As much as it was heartbreaking not being able to pitch anymore, it was exciting to have that second chance and progress enough to think I could make it back to the big leagues.”
At 6-foot-6, 235 pounds, Loewen is hard to miss. He made his first splash of the spring Thursday when he hit a solo home run in the Mets’ exhibition loss to the Marlins. Yesterday he started in left field against the Braves and went 1-for-3 in the Mets’ 5-3 victory.
Loewen already has made an impression on fellow British Columbia native Jason Bay.
“He’s a lot of the things a lot of the guys in here can do,” Bay said. “I don’t think anybody looks at him as an ex-pitcher who’s trying to be a hitter. He’s a hitter.”
Manager Terry Collins said Loewen and Baxter will get plenty of at-bats as he tries to determine which player can most help the team.
Baxter, a Queens native, had 34 at-bats for the Mets last season and batted .235 with one homer and four RBIs.
“That’s the competition right now, those two guys,” Collins said. “Both of them are defensively the same kind of players.”
Offensively, Baxter is more the contact hitter. Loewen can go deep.
“[Loewen] has got tremendous power, good bat speed and good power the other way,” hitting coach Dave Hudgens said. “He looks like he can help. He stays pretty much middle of the field and doesn’t try to pull the ball. His biggest asset is he can hit the ball out of the park.”
Loewen is just glad he’s in the mix for a change.
“This is my first year competing for a job,” he said. “Every other spring training I was told I was going down to the minors before camp started or I was in the [pitching] rotation. Preparation is going to be so important.”