11:34am: The Rays have announced the promotion, though they’ve yet to reveal the corresponding roster moves. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (via Twitter) that Christian Arroyo will be optioned to Durham, thus opening a 25-man spot, but there’s still the matter of a 40-man move to be addressed.
11:20am: The Rays are set to promote top first base prospect Nate Lowe to the big leagues, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). Lowe, who ranks as the game’s No. 90 overall prospect at Baseball America and the No. 3 first base prospect in the game per MLB.com, is not on Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster. A corresponding 40-man move will be necessary.
While he’s not related to recently extended second baseman Brandon Lowe, Nate Lowe is viewed by the Rays as a similarly vital young piece of the club. The 23-year-old is off to a terrific start with Triple-A Durham, where he has slashed .300/.444/.543 with three homers, eight doubles and nearly as many walks (17) as strikeouts (19) through 90 plate appearances.
MLB.com’s scouting report on Lowe lauds his plus-plus raw power — a trait he was finally able to tap into in game settings a season ago when he raked at a .330/.416/.568 clip across three minor league levels (topping out at Durham). In 2018, Lowe slugged 27 homers, 32 doubles and a triple with a 12.3 percent walk rate against just a 16.2 percent strikeout rate. He’s a below-average runner and limited to first base on the defensive spectrum, but last year’s .313/.395/.484 slash against lefties and .338/.425/.608 slash against righties suggests that he has the potential to be a true everyday option for the Rays at first base and/or designated hitter (as opposed to a platoon slugger).
It’s unlikely that the Rays would call up Lowe if they didn’t feel they had everyday at-bats available to the former 13th-round pick. But, with Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Diaz both performing quite well at first base and designated hitter, neither would appears to be in jeopardy of losing any playing time (barring a yet-unrevealed injury, of course). It’s possible, though, that Diaz could slide across the diamond to third base in place of the struggling Daniel Robertson, opening at-bats at first and DH to be shared among Lowe, Choi and others.
The maximum amount of service time that Lowe would be able to accrue this season is now 155 days, meaning he’ll fall shy of the requisite 172 days to notch a full season. Because of that, he’ll be controllable through the end of the 2025 campaign if he’s in the big leagues for good, and he’s also in line to be a surefire Super Two player after the 2021 season. That said, it’s still possible that he’ll be optioned back to the minors at some point and alter those trajectories.
“Rays Get Lowe, Get Lowe”
“Tampa’s Lowes Do It Right for Less”
This would work is Brandon’s name was pronounced low but it’s like wow
Well Brandon is pronouncing his name wrong.
What a woser
Lowe Rider
The Rays player development never ceases to amaze me.
HUH.? 5 of the starters vs Boston were FAs or acquired by trades in 2018
Cause that’s the Rays entire roster right there.
Starters?
Only true starters are Snell, Morton & Glasnow.
Morton wanted to get closer to where his family lives in Bradenton & Glasnow was acquired as 1 of 3 pieces for Archer.
Part of a good FO is to have prospects or young players other teams would trade for.
But the Rays do have McKay + others at AAA & De Leon is still working his way back (Honeywell will need more time. No need in rushing him for ’19) from TJ.
Add scouting to what amazes you about them and you’d be right on. The biggest heist was Glasnow plus for .500 Archer.
The rays have three “Lowes”. Can’t wait until they’re all in the majors and I really can’t tell them apart
And they’re all infielder. Can you wait for a 5-4-3 double play call? “Lowe to Lowe to Lowe!!”
They’ve moved the youngest to the grass where he looks like he has a chance to become an above average CF, but knowing the Rays it could still be a possibility.
Nate was excellent during spring training and very deserving-congrats. Does this move assume something’s wrong with Ji man Choi though?
I don’t know but I’m surprised the Rays thought he had more power. They had talked about his hr total last year but he seems like a doubles hitter to me. Nothing wrong with him or that but they realistically need another big bat and they might believe they already have it in their system or be trying to raise his or another’s value. If they had traded Cron during the season last year and gotten more for Dickerson I’d be more excited that Choi could be on the move. He really does have potential with a decent floor so maybe they end up with something out of him an infield prospect and a lower prospect or two for Bauer, Bumgarner etc…
yep I’m sure Cleveland is looking to move bauer for low prospects and Choi.
Now the Rays just need to acquire David Price to play first base…They’d be the most popular double play trio since Tinker, Evers & Chance! The marketing practically writes itself!
The Lowe brothers are reunited
Nate and Brandon aren’t related. Nate’s brother Josh is a 3b in the Tampa farm system…
Close. They moved Josh to CF, which most scouts predicted.
13th round draft pick, 2.5 years later in the bigs as a higher end prospect……….why can’t my team do this?
Rays could be a great team of they had the Florida market all to themselves. a bit more cash to pick up some vets and they have a deadly comp of vets and younger talent. really, its all 29 other teams that would wonder the same thing. id argue Rays player development is as good as it gets.
I wouldn’t get tooooo excited about this Lowe. Completely defensively limited to 1B (and that’s being kind), nothing on the bases, excessive K-rate. But they’re getting nothing out of D-Rob and Adames (besides Willie’s interesting throws), so it’s a better alternative. And of course Duffy and Wendle are likely out for a long time.
That gives them 2 defensively bereft corner IFs, (Lowe and Diaz) a “meh” at best 2B (Loew as in “ow!”), and the walking adventure of Adames at short. Might be an issue moving forward.
Old friend Hechaveria is sitting at AAA for the Mets; that’s the move I would have made. Ya, he can’t hit, but defensively he’s Simba-light. And that ain’t bad at all.
I “would” get excited about D Lowe! he makes contact, walks, and already hit bombs during spring training games with the Rays! His 1stbase work is excellent and since Ji Man Choi is MIA we need a LH 1st baseman now. to compliment RH- Y Diaz. This is why you should have an A+ minor league organization. Rays up ! and up in the minors as well!
I am concerned if Adames is able to last in the majors, his defense has to get better soon. Nor to worry with D Rob and Wendel backing him up now and #1 baseball prospect in all minors- SS Wander Franco available next year!
Yandy Diaz is not a terrible defensive player. He has a strong arm and I don’t think his range is really that bad. He’s not going to win any gold gloves but I certainly don’t consider any less of him than I do Rafael devers. He’s arguably the 2nd best defensive 3B in the entire division. (Assuming andujar, Vladdy, Devers, and Rio Ruiz) Yes the best defensive 3B is an oriole and it isn’t even debatable out of that group. Lowe’s k’s? 21% is not exorbitantly high for a power hitting 1B. His 19% walk rate is elite. I’d be excited if I were TB. They have more young infield depth than anyone in this division. They’ll probably be getting a boost to their staff or pen in the form of Honeywell and De Leon at some point as well. This team is in a good spot.
Your calculus is just off for the ALE. It has been before the first pitch. Boston isn’t head and shoulders better than the league. They’re on a level playing field in their own division. You’re going to have to admit that at some point here. Boston has legitimate issues. TB’s 3 pitchers are better than any 3 you pick from Boston’s rotation. That’s not changing unless Sale finds dominance again. You’re going to have to face reality at some point here. The rays are a legitimate team. The opener is working. The other 3 starters are really good and the young offense is dangerous.
it’s great to hear from someone who actually is watching ballgames! The Rays have many interchangable players along with an elite Upper minors system-They are for real!. Every trade and coaching they did in the offseason has worked! Cudo’s to Rays management.
I’m more surprised by the Yanks than anybody else in the ALE; they’re holding together with spit and straw with all those injuries. The Sox? Ya, they’ve played like poop, but who’s going to surprised if they go out and win 10 in a row? Not too many people. It really is early yet.
The Rays have outstanding pitchers, and Cash gets the Alex Cora (“every move I make works out aces”)) award so far. Their pitching has been extraordinary.
Speaking of which, interesting AAA matchup tonight between Ryan Yarborough and Yarborough wanna-be, Keegan Aiken. Neither can break glass with their fastball, but both get pretty good results. Ya, they’re both the stuff 4thstarters are made of, but you need 4th starters too.
At this point, yeah it’d surprise me to see the Sox win 10 in a row. Considering you’d get Sale and Johnson/Velasquez for 3-4 of those games. Sale isn’t this bad but I don’t think he’s dominant sale. With this arsenal he’s not. The bullpen hasn’t really been tested and they’ve essentially got no offense from 3 offensive positions. 2B, C,CF. I don’t expect that to change except for 2B if Chavis doesn’t kick the ball around too much over there. He’ll help a lot because they’re clearly going to need to put up offensive numbers night in and night out. (or at least when price isn’t pitching)