After a slow start, the Rays’ second baseman has been on a tear, reminding the league of his All-Star caliber play.
TAMPA, Fla. – Brandon Lowe’s average was a season-low .190 entering the Rays’ three-game series in Toronto beginning May 13. Things began to click that evening at Rogers Centre. Did they ever.
The second baseman singled twice and drove in a pair of runs in an 11-9 win over the Blue Jays. That was the beginning of a stretch in which Lowe hit safely in 16 of 17, including what was a career-best 13-game hitting streak to close out the month. His average shot up to .246.
May proved to be an appetizer for what was to come in June, when Lowe hit .337 with seven homers and slugged .600. He heads into Wednesday’s matinee (12:10) and series finale against the visiting A’s with a 17-game hitting streak, extended in Tuesday evening’s 4-3 extra-inning loss with a moonshot of a homer down the right field line in the third inning.
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During his six-week run since his average was below the Mendoza Line, Lowe has hit safely in 38 of 44 games (.345, 14 HRs) to raise his average to .274 and his OPS from .550 to .820. His 50 RBIs are second on the team to Junior Caminero’s 53.
Of course, it helps to be healthy. Injuries, including to the delicate lower back, have limited Lowe to one season (2021) of at least 400 at-bats in his career. This year has been a wonderful combination of health and productivity. (Knock on whatever nearby hard surface.)
“I don’t know what the difference is, if it is being on natural grass and not being on natural turf or whatnot,” he said of his health and playing at Steinbrenner Field this season. “(The training staff and I) have put a lot of work in the past few years trying to make sure I was going to get back on the field and stay healthy. It’s nice to see it pay off.”
His manager appreciates the hard work Lowe continues to put to maintain his health, something that is all the more imperative as the years tick along.
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“To his credit ‘B-Lowe’ has learned a lot about himself and his body, what he needs to do to play every day,” said Kevin Cash. “I think with a couple of injuries under your belt, you begin to manage yourself a little bit better. As you get older and as you have some injuries, I like to think you are more mindful of what you need to do to stay on the field.”
Always solid at the second sack, Lowe, who turns 31 on Sunday, has often been spectacular this season on a team that is fifth in the American League in fielding percentage.
“It can be tough to talk about the defense because he does so much with the bat, and we certainly appreciate him on both sides of the ball,” said Cash.
It has been a fun time for Lowe, helping lead a team that is 26-13 since May 20.
“I always make fun with Camy, Jonny and those guys,” he said, referring to the seasons Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda are enjoying. “I tell them the reason I am doing so well is that I want to keep up with them young pups.”
An all-star appearance could come his way, which Rays will find out Sunday when rosters are filled out.
“It means all the work you have been doing in the offseason, all the work you have been doing to get ready on the field has been paying off,” he said of a potential trip to Atlanta the middle of this month, which would be his second all-star appearance along with 2019.
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