The Orem Owlz were a Minor League Baseball team located in Orem, Utah, United States, from 2001 to 2020. The team competed in the Pioneer League as a Rookie League affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. The Owlz played their home games at Home of the Owlz on the campus of Utah Valley University. They were previously known as the Provo Angels from 2001 to 2004. In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League, of which the Owlz had been members since 2001, was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League. Concurrent to this change, the Owlz relocated to Windsor, Colorado, and became the Northern Colorado Owlz.

History

Formerly known as the Provo Angels (2001–2004), the team originally played at the Larry H. Miller Field on the campus of Brigham Young University in northeastern Provo. After the 2004 season, the team changed ownership and moved from Provo to a new stadium in neighboring Orem.

The Owlz played in the Pioneer League, which was a Rookie League with an abbreviated schedule (short-season). The team won five Pioneer League titles; one while in Provo (2004), and four while in Orem (2005, 2007, 2009, and 2016).

The team is prominently mentioned in the book Odd Man Out: A Year on the Mound with a Minor League Misfit, a memoir recounting the author's one season playing for the Provo Angels.

Team owner Jeff Katofsky planned to relocate the team to Pueblo, Colorado, in 2020, where they would be known as the Pueblo Owlz, but the plan was abandoned due to financial concerns by the city of Pueblo.

Ultimately, they relocated to Windsor, Colorado, in 2021 and became the Northern Colorado Owlz. This move was made in conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021 in which the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League.

Playoffs

Hootz, the mascot of the Orem Owlz, July 2006
  • 2017: Lost to Ogden 2–0 in semifinals.
  • 2016: Defeated Ogden 2–1 in semifinals; defeated Billings 2–0 to win championship.
  • 2015: Lost to Idaho Falls 2–1 in semifinals.
  • 2014: Defeated Ogden 2–0 in semifinals; lost to Billings 2–0 in finals.
  • 2011: Lost to Ogden 2–1 in semifinals.
  • 2010: Lost to Ogden 2–1 in semifinals.
  • 2009: Defeated Ogden 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Missoula 2–1 to win championship.
  • 2008: Lost to Great Falls 2–1 in finals.
  • 2007: Defeated Great Falls 2–0 to win championship.
  • 2005: Defeated Helena 2–0 to win championship.
  • 2004: Defeated Billings 2–0 to win championship.
  • 2003: Lost to Billings 2–0 in finals.
  • 2002: Lost to Great Falls 2–1 in finals.
  • 2001: Lost to Billings 2–0 in finals.

All-stars

Provo Angels
SeasonName & Position
2001Al Corbeil, C Casey Smith, SS Sam Swenson, OF Pedro Liriano, RH SP Jason Dennis, LH SP
2002Alex Dvorsky, C Ryan Shealy, 1B Alberto Callaspo, 2B Erick Aybar, SS
2003Warner Madrigal, OF Abel Moreno, RH SP
2004Sean Rodriguez, SS Andrew Toussaint, DH Mitchell Arnold, RP Tom Kotchman, Mgr.
Orem Owlz
SeasonName & Position
2005none
2006Chris Pettit, OF Sean O'Sullivan, P Tom Kotchman, Mgr.
2007Jay Brossman, 3B Robert Fish, P
2008Luis Jimenez, 3B Angel Castillo, OF Roberto Lopez, DH Jayson Miller, P Will Smith, P
2009Dillon Baird, 1B Tom Kotchman, Mgr.
2010none
2011Taylor Lindsey, 2B Ryan Jones, OF
2012Wade Hinkle, 1B Wendell Soto, SS Joel Capote, OF Michael Snyder, DH Gabriel Perez, P
2013Cal Towery, 3B José Rondón, SS Jonathan Van Eaton, P
2014Michael Bolaski, P
2015Michael Pierson, 3B Taylor Ward, C Joe Gatto, P Kyle Survance Jr., OF
2017Elvin Rodriguez, P Chris Rodriguez, P Daniel Procopio, P Ryan Vega, OF Leonardo Rivas, INF Isaac Mattson, P
2018Kevin Maitan, SS Jake Lee, P
2019D'Shawn Knowles, OF Jeremiah Jackson, DH

Players with MLB experience

Players are listed by the season(s) they played for the Provo Angels (2001–2004) or Orem Owlz (2005–present).

Provo Angels
SeasonPlayersRef
2001Steve Andrade, Nick Gorneault, Casey Kotchman, Pedro Liriano, Jeff Mathis, Dallas McPherson, Ervin Santana, Steven Shell, Jake Woods
2002Erick Aybar, Matthew Brown, Alberto Callaspo, Edwar Ramirez, Rafael Rodríguez, Joe Saunders
2003Matthew Brown, Daniel Davidson, Brian Esposito, Howie Kendrick, Warner Madrigal, Fernando Rodriguez, Reggie Willits, Bobby Wilson, Brandon Wood
2004Alexi Casilla, Fernando Rodriguez, Sean Rodriguez
Orem Owlz
SeasonPlayersRef
2005Nick Adenhart, José Arredondo, Martín Maldonado, Bobby Mosebach, Mark Trumbo
2006Trevor Bell, Peter Bourjos, Barret Browning, Bobby Cassevah, David Herndon, Darren O'Day, Sean O'Sullivan, Anthony Ortega, Chris Pettit
2007Ryan Brasier, Bobby Cassevah, Jeremy Moore, Efren Navarro, Andrew Romine, Mason Tobin, Jordan Walden
2008Buddy Boshers, Steve Geltz, Luis Jiménez, Michael Kohn, Alberto Rosario, Will Smith, Andrew Taylor
2009Buddy Boshers, David Carpenter, Patrick Corbin, Garrett Richards, Jean Segura, Tyler Skaggs
2010Kole Calhoun, Kaleb Cowart, Donn Roach, A. J. Schugel
2011Jett Bandy, Mike Clevinger, Kaleb Cowart, C. J. Cron, Nick Maronde
2012Austin Adams†, Jairo Díaz, Mike Morin, Chris O'Grady, José Rondón, Michael Roth, Joey Krehbiel, Sherman Johnson, Anthony Bemboom
2013Alan Busenitz, Mike Clevinger, Keynan Middleton, Chris O'Grady, José Rondón, Victor Alcántara, Yency Almonte, Kyle McGowin
2014Greg Mahle, Keynan Middleton, Eduardo Paredes, Justin Anderson, Michael Hermosillo, Jake Jewell
2015Jaime Barría, Michael Hermosillo, David Fletcher, Taylor Ward, Jared Walsh
2016Rey Navarro, Cory Rasmus, Ashur Tolliver, José Suárez, Matt Thaiss
2017Austin D. Adams, Austin L. Adams

See also

  • Orem Owlz players
  • Provo Angels players

External links

  • – Orem teams
  • – Provo teams