Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 50
A third-round pick out of Maryland as a red-shirt sophomore in 2015, Lowe had a breakout campaign two years later when he established Class A Advanced Charlotte franchise records in slugging percentage (.524) and OPS (.927) en route to Florida State League MVP honors and a promotion to Double-A. When he returned there in 2018, Lowe showed more power and quickly hit his way up to Triple-A Durham, where he homered 14 times in 46 games to earn his first big league callup in August. In the Majors, Lowe overcame an 0-for-19 start to his career to finish with six home runs and a .774 OPS in 129 at-bats. Banking on his future, the Rays and Lowe agreed to a six-year, $24 million extension in March 2019.
Lowe has long stood out for his pure hitting ability and on-base skills from the left side of the plate, and he showed in 2018 that he could apply his raw power in games, as he finished the season with 28 home runs and 37 doubles between the Minors and Tampa Bay. He can punish a fastball and produced slightly above-average exit velocities in his first taste of the Majors. He has a good feel for the strike zone, doesn't chase and consistently capitalizes on pitchers' mistakes. Lowe is an average runner but doesn't steal many bases. His average arm plays well at second base, where he's a solid but unspectacular defender, and he held his own at both outfield corners last season even though he was new to both positions.
The improved defensive versatility adds even more value to Lowe's bat-first profile and should give him the chance to start on a near everyday basis in the big leagues. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2018 581 92 10 10.9 89.3 13.9 .238 .448 .334 .338 .407 43.5 25.7 10.8 2019 1311 184 30 16.3 91.1 18.7 .244 .507 .354 .346 .501 46.2 34.6 7.6 ALL 1892 276 40 14.5 90.5 17.1 .242 .489 .348 .343 .470 45.3 31.8 8.6 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 09/22/2019 Tampa Bay Rays activated 2B Brandon Lowe from the 60-day injured list. 08/23/2019 Tampa Bay Rays transferred 2B Brandon Lowe from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. Right shin bone bruise. 08/20/2019 Tampa Bay Rays sent 2B Brandon Lowe on a rehab assignment to Durham Bulls. 08/17/2019 Tampa Bay Rays sent 2B Brandon Lowe on a rehab assignment to Charlotte Stone Crabs. 08/14/2019 Tampa Bay Rays sent 2B Brandon Lowe on a rehab assignment to GCL Rays. 07/04/2019 Tampa Bay Rays placed 2B Brandon Lowe on the 10-day injured list retroactive to July 3, 2019. Right shin bone bruise. 08/04/2018 Tampa Bay Rays selected the contract of 2B Brandon Lowe from Durham Bulls. 06/07/2018 LF Brandon Lowe assigned to Durham Bulls from Montgomery Biscuits. 02/23/2018 1B Brandon Lowe assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. 08/02/2017 LF Brandon Lowe assigned to Montgomery Biscuits from Charlotte Stone Crabs. 06/19/2017 Charlotte Stone Crabs activated 2B Brandon Lowe from the 7-day disabled list. 06/12/2017 Charlotte Stone Crabs placed 2B Brandon Lowe on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to June 6, 2017. 04/04/2017 2B Brandon Lowe assigned to Charlotte Stone Crabs from Bowling Green Hot Rods. 04/05/2016 2B Brandon Lowe assigned to Bowling Green Hot Rods. 06/25/2015 Tampa Bay Rays signed 2B Brandon Lowe.
