After the season, Owchinko helped lead the U.S. Men's National Team to a silver medal in the 1975 Pan American Games.

[1] Owchinko was picked in the first round (fifth overall) by Peter Bavasi for the San Diego Padres in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.

After going 6-2 with a 3.26 ERA for the double A Texas League Amarillo Gold Sox, Owchinko was called up to the majors in his very first professional season.

After the season, Owchinko and outfielder Jim Wilhelm were traded to the Cleveland Indians for Jerry Mumphrey.

He responded with a four hit shutout of the Detroit Tigers,[7] however, would lose his next three starts to finish the season with a 2-9 record and 5.27 ERA.

After just one season in Cleveland, he was included in a six-player trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Bert Blyleven and Manny Sanguillén.

He made his only post season appearance that year, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing one earned run in the 1981 American League Championship Series against the Yankees.

After that, he became something of a minor league journeyman, pitching in the A's, Chicago White Sox and Montreal Expos organizations.