Owen Greaves can tell you anything you want to know about his beloved Toronto Blue Jays; the team's statistics, the players names - anything.
The 10-year-old baseball enthusiast can also tell you anything about his idol and role model, American pitcher Jim Abbott.
In fact, the little Richmondite has a lot in common with Abbott - both were born with one hand, both are pitchers and both define themselves by their achievements, rather than their disabilities.
Owen sat down with the News and admitted he felt a little overwhelmed by all the attention - he was featured this week on Global BC's News Hour - he's garnered because of his brush with fame.
"It's no big deal," he said while shrugging his shoulders.
He came by the News, baseball bat in tow, with his mom Nina Greaves and younger sister Sydney, seven.
Owen would rather talk about the game than himself. "I record every single game with the Blue Jays and watch them on You Tube," said Owen, who will enter Grade 5 in the fall at Thomas Kidd elementary.
"I really look up to Blue Jays players Brett Lawrie and Edwin Encarnacion _ Edwin is really fast."
His mom remembers Owen picking up his first bat when he was three years old.
"We lived near Garden City Park then and he would watch the baseball players and want to play too," she said. "I come from a family who loves sports.
"My dad knew that Jim Abbott was born without a right hand and told Owen all about his achievements_ that really helped Owen to hear that."
She went on to say that her son was born a fighter and was "always trying to prove something to himself."
"Owen is very self-driven and there's this inner drive and determination that won't allow him to give up on anything."
Owen's a fantastic all-around athlete, said Jason Eng, his Richmond Chuckers all-star coach. For the last two years, Eng has watched Owen prove his talent on the field over and over again.
"When you see him play you don't actually realize he only has one hand," said Eng. "He's a talented player who doesn't want to be treated any differently than his teammates.
"He is so driven to succeed and he's so motivated to give it his all, it's truly amazing to see that in one so young."
Owen's talent doesn't stop on the baseball field. He's also an accomplished soccer and tennis player and golfer.
"I also like basketball and I just tried kayaking," added Owen, who only wears his prosthesis to cycle or to help him build strength in his biceps.
When asked what it is about baseball that he loves best, Owen doesn't hesitate. "I love the strategy of the game and the challenge," he said.
Owen said he'd try anything once and his only real challenge thus far has been the monkey bars.
"The monkey bars are a little difficult for me," he said.
When Owen isn't training for the baseball provincials, he can be found with his sister Sydney jumping on the family's trampoline, watching movies or cycling around the neighbourhood.
It won't surprise readers to hear Owen aspires to one day "be a professional baseball or soccer player or a television sports commentator."
