2:55PM: Lowe suffered a Grade 2 oblique strain, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times writes. This more severe level of strain likely means Lowe will miss at least 6-7 weeks in a best-case scenario, and multiple months on the IL is a distinct possibility.
TODAY, 11:05AM: The Rays placed Lowe on the 10-day injured list, announcing his injury as a right oblique strain. Switch-hitting outfielder Jake Mangum has been called up to take Lowe’s spot on the active roster, and the 29-year-old Mangum will be making his Major League debut the first time he appears in a game. Marc Topkin wrote earlier this month about Mangum’s unique career path, as his road to the majors has hit such speedbumps as the canceled 2020 minor league season and a pair of trades, including the deal that brought him from the Marlins to the Rays during the 2023-24 offseason.
MARCH 28: The Rays won their season opener over the Rockies in dramatic fashion, as Kameron Misner slugged a walk-off for his first career home run. Tampa Bay didn’t come out of the game completely unscathed, though. Josh Lowe was lifted for a pinch-runner after hitting a single in the fifth inning. The Rays announced that he experienced right oblique discomfort.
It’s likely he’ll wind up on the injured list. Manager Kevin Cash told Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times postgame that he expected Lowe “to miss some time.” The outfielder is headed for an MRI, which will reveal a more defined timeline. Even low-grade oblique strains tend to cost hitters a couple weeks. More significant strains can sideline players for multiple months.
The Rays won’t know until tomorrow how severe Lowe’s injury is. It’s the second straight year in which his right oblique has given him trouble. Lowe opened last season with a six-week IL stay after straining the oblique in the middle of March. That return was delayed somewhat by an additional bout of hamstring tightness. He was activated in the first week of May but returned to the IL with another oblique strain on May 23. That was a relatively minor problem, as he was able to make it back by June 3.
Lowe got the Opening Day nod in right field even though he’s coming off a down year. The lefty-hitting outfielder turned in a mediocre .241/.302/.391 slash with 10 homers across 387 plate appearances last season. He was far better in 2023, when he drilled 20 homers with a .292/.335/.500 line through 501 trips to the dish.
The start today came against a left-handed pitcher (Kyle Freeland). The righty-swinging José Caballero came off the bench to finish the game in right field. Misner, a lefty bat, could get the majority of the playing time if Lowe hits the IL. Caballero and Curtis Mead are right-handed hitters who could factor in off the bench. Jake Mangum, who has yet to make his MLB debut, is the only other healthy outfielder on the 40-man roster. Tampa Bay added utilityman Coco Montes to their 40-man yesterday. He played some outfield in Japan last season but has not done so in his MLB career.
They make it sound like playing OF in Japan doesn’t count. Is it the conversion from Metric?
I think the implication is that it’s unclear if MLB teams view him as viable in the OF.
Fun fact: there was a better crowd for Rays-Rockies at Steinbrenner Field (capacity 10,000) then for Marlins-Pirates at loandepot Park (capacity 37,000) today.
Both terrible owners of course but do with that information what you will…
One was opening day. No comparison. I do think the Rays have a much larger following than the Marlins. The Marlins have the wild card though ( a stadium).
I’d bet Rays fans will be clamoring for tickets all season, sell out every game. I think it’s an exciting thing, everybody at the game will feel like it’s a special game, going to have small energetic crowds, I think it’s going to play in the Rays favor.
I bet those terrible owners know the difference between than and then…
Oh no! Grammar police are here, everybody grab your dictionaries and get the heck out of hurr.
*here
Lol, you don’t own a dictionary. Put your hands behind your back. You’re under arrest!
His clock is ticking…
Lowe’s recurring oblique issues aren’t random—they’re a biomechanical domino effect from his 2024 hamstring tweak. Tight hamstrings shift pelvic alignment, overloading the right oblique on swings. The Rays know this; they’re not MRI-ing for severity—they’re mapping the chain to trade him midseason. His $1M arb salary and 20-homer upside make him a cheap asset for a contender willing to rehab him, while Tampa flips him for a prospect before his body breaks again. No one’s connecting these dots.
This is wild if true.
@ClevelandSteelEngines
Book it! You can even shove it in my face if it doesn’t come true!
Don’t worry, This is an area with no coverage so it’s interesting.
I’d caution against believing everything Old York says. He often leaves longgggg passages on posts and seems to be blatantly wrong often. Not sure if he’s just trying to sound smart?
@choof
I’m sorry you were triggered that I don’t write to your kindergarten reading level. But, my point isn’t to sound smart or get a reaction from others but to write a reply to the article. It’s up to you to read it or not.
I love you too buddy
@choof
That’s it?
Not sure?
Yep! I have more important things to do 🙂
That actually makes sense to me, all related to kinesiology in some way certainly, has to be somewhat related to his approach at the plate too. Also agree that he is a nice player to add in a trade for a contender if Tampa determines that they are going to punt the season but I had thought that they had a outside chance at winning the East if Lowe and Lowe could stay healthy, if Eloy Jimenez can get it going, if McClanahan, Baz and Rasmussen get strong and pitch well, and if they can get some production out of their young players, namely Junior Caminero at 3B, Chandler Simpson in CF, and Carson Williams at SS – a lot of ifs, but they have the pitching. Pepiot had a nice start yesterday.
Now you’re counting Curtis Mead to plug in at second, could work out but every if adds another sack of potatoes on their cart.
A few clarifications:
1. The injured Lowe is Josh Lowe, who plays RF, not Brandon Lowe, who plays 2B. Josh is still prearb and very unlikely to be traded this year, no matter his health status.
2. Chandler Simpson and Carson Williams are long shots to get called up before June and might not get more than cups of coffee this year.
3. Eloy Jimenez is in AAA after accepting a minors assignment instead of being released. If the Rays season comes down to him getting it going, the Rays season is already over.
I was talking about Josh Lowe the entire time, and agree with Old York that he is a player that could be a nice addition to any team. I think that was Old York’s point and why he would be an attractive trade target. Being oft injured, his ARB salary is likely to be very attractive which would increase his demand side.
If DeLuca struggles, and Chandler Simpson gets off to a hot start, expect him in the bigs. He is in his age 24 season, he has had plenty of seasoning. He might not hit the roster until May or June but he should get a look. I can see them bringing up Williams at the end of the month. He has crushed AA. He can make the jump. As far as Eloy Jimenez goes, this guy can hit a ton when he is healthy and has it going. He is key to the Rays because they will have added him to their roster on a cheap minor league deal, and can likely extend him inexpensively too, should he get his body in shape and stay healthy for a season. He could be a difference maker on a team that needs a difference maker.
BW – Then I don’t understand your comment about Mead playing 2B. Brandon Lowe plays 2B and isn’t affected by Josh Lowe’s injury.
Williams has no time in AAA yet. He’s not getting called up in a month. The Rays aren’t the Padres or Angels, they let their prospects marinate in the minors for a long time. And don’t forget they have Kim taking over SS at some point in May/June.
I like Eloy and am glad the Rays signed him to a minor league deal, but I’m not expecting him to be a savior by any means. The Rays season will depend on a lot of other players much more so than Eloy.
Right, I mixed that up. Was thinking Josh Lowe was at second for some reason.
If traded he will go through a medical check and that’d get picked up. Then someone within Rays would probably be fined or suspended. That’s just not happening and a wild thing to even suggest. Not every franchise is the Padres and tries to cheat their way through trades…
I’m guessing you’re a chiropractor or something. Maybe you’re right on his health, but in the big picture, you’re wrong. Josh is still pre-arb and he’s not getting traded because he’s the only Rays’ outfielder with any real chance of being a difference maker. Rays trade him, they might as well trade Brandon Lowe and Yandy Diaz and punt on the season.
Disappointing news, Josh Lowe can’t stay off the IR. When both Lowe’s are healthy, the Rays click, when one or both are injured, they are sluggish.
They have .>500 OPS players at SS and CF. Throw in the catcher and you get a bad offense.
Carson Williams can plug in at SS, and Chandler Simpson in CF, both unproven prospects with but both have some nice tools.
BWMiller – Neither is likely getting called up before June though, and my money is on just a cup of coffee for Williams (at best).
I guess it depends on how absent Taylor Walls and Jose Caballero are with the bat. I’d say the likelihood of both failing to hit will have them moving Williams up sooner than later but it could go either way.
BW – I think you’re forgetting the highest paid Ray this year is Ha-Seong Kim, who will play SS for the Rays. He returns to action in May/June.
Cleaver – You’re not a fan of new catcher Danny Jansen?
I’m sure the Rays’ obscenely over-staffed analytics department already factored in the possibility of this happening. Don’t worry, they have it all figured out. Smartest regular season team in baseball by far.
Are we sure his last name is Low(e) and not like his teammate Brandon Lau(Lowe) with the exact spelling.
Not good news for the Rays, who have a good offense but not a very deep one
Owie!