SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Minor League Baseball announced the Pitcher and Player of the Week honors for the week of August 10th through August 16th in each of their respective Player Development Leagues. Naturals’ left-handed starter Hunter Owen was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week for his start against Springfield (Cardinals) on August 15th, 2026.
Owen was spectacular on Saturday, earning his second win of the season in dominant fashion in the 3-0 win over the Cardinals. The Vanderbilt alum fired 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit, while striking out a career-high 12 hitters. He started the game by striking out the side in the opening frame and was perfect through 4.2 innings before issuing his first walk of the night. The left-hander held the Cardinals hitless through 6.0 innings before giving up a lead-off single in the seventh. Owen's 12 strikeouts were the second-most in club history and the first time a NWA pitcher reached the mark since Steven Zobac accomplished the feat on August 7th, 2024.
Hunter has been brilliant in August for Northwest Arkansas. In three starts, he is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA and has allowed just three runs while striking out 27 hitters in 15.0 innings of work.
Owen becomes the first Naturals pitcher this season to earn the Pitcher of the Week honor and the 47th in club history. The last pitcher to win the award was left-hander Oscar Rayo for the week of July 28 through August 3, 2025, for his relief efforts against Corpus Christi (Astros).
Infielder Luke Mann of the Midland RockHounds (Athletics) was named Texas League Player of the Week after hitting .588 (10-for-17) with six home runs, seven runs scored, and 12 RBI.
The Naturals are in San Antonio this week to face the Missions before returning to Arvest Ballpark on August 25th for a six-game homestand against the Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers).