Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Tue 6/21/22 10:10 AM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk Monday against the Yankees.
EDGE Analysis
Lowe was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday and started in left field while hitting eighth. His trouble making contact -- regardless of level -- continued Tuesday and marked the eighth time in 20 big-league games that he struck out multiple times this season. However, with Manuel Margot (knee) and Kevin Kiermaier (hip) expected to land on the injured list, Lowe should get regular run in the Rays' outfield.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Mon 6/20/22 12:09 PM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
The Rays recalled Lowe from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
EDGE Analysis
With Tampa Bay needing to pare down its pitching staff to 13 men ahead of Monday's MLB-imposed deadline, reliever Luke Bard will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to Lowe. After breaking camp with the big club as a starting outfielder, Lowe was sent to Triple-A just three weeks later when he slashed .181/.250/.325 with a 38 percent strikeout rate over 71 plate appearances at Tampa Bay. The 24-year-old has since righted the ship at Triple-A with a .929 OPS at Durham, but he's still struck out in 31.2 percent of his 157 plate appearances. In spite of his high pedigree as a prospect, Lowe may still have to initially settle for fourth-outfielder duties behind Manuel Margot, Randy Arozarena and Kevin Kiermaier as he rejoins the big club.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Sun 6/19/22 10:43 PM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Lowe wasn't in the lineup for the Triple-A club Sunday, and he'll ultimately head to Tampa Bay to rejoin the Rays ahead of their series opener against the Yankees. The 24-year-old had a 38.0 percent strikeout rate over 19 games with the Rays to begin the year but has cut down to a 20.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors over 15 games since the start of June. In spite of his struggles in the big leagues early in the season, Lowe should see regular playing time once he's called up Monday.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Tue 6/14/22 4:44 PM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe has struck out only twice in his last six games for Triple-A Durham -- a span in which he's hit .381, walked six times and stolen two bases.
EDGE Analysis
He recently went four straight games without striking out -- the first time he's done that all season. Before that stretch, Lowe had struck out at least once in 26 of 27 games since his demotion to Triple-A. In June as a whole, Lowe has hit .300/.429/.475 with a homer, three steals and nearly as many walks as strikeouts, so it certainly looks like he's turning the corner with his approach at the plate after struggling mightily to begin the year.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Fri 6/3/22 10:04 AM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe hit .284/.337/.531 but struck out 35 times across 81 at-bats with Triple-A Durham in May.
EDGE Analysis
Lowe struck out at a 38 percent clip in his first taste of the big leagues, and that mark has remained consistent with Durham. He's still managing to produce -- he has five home runs and two stolen bases across 99 plate appearances -- but his inability to make consistent contact could prevent him from getting another immediate chance with the Rays.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Thu 5/12/22 4:20 PM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe has homered in each of his last two games and three times overall for Triple-A Durham, but he's picked up only one other hit in seven games since being demoted while striking out 17 times in 28 plate appearances. He's hitting .188/.257/.344 for Durham.
EDGE Analysis
Lowe was already whiffing way too much in the majors before his demotion, but this is a whole new level -- a 60.7 percent strikeout rate. The issue seems more like a problem with his approach or confidence than anything physical, so Lowe could be just an adjustment way from being the hitter who posted a .291/.381/.535 line for Durham last year. He's always going to strike out a lot, but Lowe is a much better hitter than he's shown this year. Fortunately, the Rays have the luxury of letting him work through it at Triple-A for as long as he needs.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Sun 5/1/22 5:12 PM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
EDGE Analysis
Lowe didn't have a particularly hot start to the regular season, as he slashed just .181/.250/.325 with three homers, 13 runs, eight RBI and a stolen base. However, he still had regular playing time and is one of the Rays' top prospects, so it's surprising to see him sent down as part of a move to trim the major-league roster from 28 to 26 players by Monday. The 24-year-old will likely be back with the major-league club at some point as long as regains some production at the plate in Durham, but it's not yet clear when that could occur. Harold Ramirez and Brett Phillips should see an uptick in playing time following Lowe's demotion.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Sat 4/30/22 9:10 AM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-1 win over the Twins.
EDGE Analysis
The rookie turned on a Dylan Bundy fastball at the top of the zone in the first inning, sending it over the fence in center field for his first homer in the majors. Lowe has had a tough start to his tenure in Tampa Bay, with his 36.5 percent strikeout rate being more than 10 points higher than his mark in Triple-A last year, but he's been making hard contact when he does get his bat on the ball and a hot streak could be coming.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Wed 4/27/22 1:11 PM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
EDGE Analysis
Lowe has started against just two left-handed pitchers this year, and he'll take a seat with southpaw Marco Gonzales on the mound for Seattle. Randy Arozarena will start in left field while Harold Ramirez serves as the designated hitter.
Josh Lowe LF/RF TB Sun 4/24/22 11:19 AM
Josh Lowe
LF/RF TB
Lowe is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
EDGE Analysis
He's one of three lefty-hitting regulars taking a seat for the series finale, with Ji-Man Choi and Brandon Lowe also joining Lowe on the bench. Randy Arozarena, who served as the Rays' designated hitter in Saturday's 3-2 win, will replace Lowe in left field Sunday.