Texas Rangers Nathaniel Lowe exploded in 2022
By Scott Trick
This past season the Texas Rangers were lucky to have four prominent players with at least 20 home runs. Of those four players, it was Nathaniel Lowe’s first time hitting 20 or more home runs. And he did that while maintaining a batting average over .300.
Lowe is a real deal, and he has already proved that in the 2022 season. His 1,252 PO (what does PO mean in baseball) also depicts he defensive brilliance during the season.
Nathaniel Lowe and His Illustrious Career So Far
David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. is first baseman in Texas Rangers. Lowe attended Marietta’s Pope High School. He played baseball at Mercer University in 2014 and later for St. Johns River State College in 2015 and Mississippi State in 2016. Louisville Slugger selected him as a second-team All-American that year.
Time at Tampa Bay Rays
Nathaniel Lowe was drafted by Tampa Rays in 2016 Major League Baseball drafts in the 13th round. He debuted professionally with the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League and had a.300/.382/.437 batting line with four home runs and 40 RBIs in 67 games. In 2017, he split his time between the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Class A Midwest League and the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, where he hit 7 home runs and 59 RBIs in 115 games.
As 2018 began, Lowe was playing for Charlotte. He was promoted to the Class AA Southern League’s Montgomery Biscuits in the middle of the season and will play for the Rays in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game. The Rays gave Lowe another promotion in August, this time to the Class AAA International League’s Durham Bulls. After hitting 27 home runs and 102 RBIs over 130 games for the three teams in 2018, Lowe was selected as MLB Pipeline team of the Year. Starting the New Year out in Durham was where he went back to.
On April 29, 2019, the Rays called up Lowe to their big league team. His first career home run came in 2019 against the New York Yankees. Lowe hit two home runs for the first time in a game on July 13, 2019. Lowe played 21 games with the Rays in 2020, posting a.224/.316/.433 slash line with 4 home runs and 11 RBIs over 76 at-bats.
Texas Rangers & Lowe
To acquire Heriberto Hernandez, Osleivis Basabe, and Alexander Ovalles, the Tampa Rays traded Nathaniel Lowe, Jake Guenther, and Carl Chester to the Texas Rangers in 2020. In 157 games that year, Lowe slashed 18 homers and 72 RBIs.
In 2022, Nathaniel Lowe made history by striking two consecutive perfect innings against the Houston Astros. It was a historic moment as two perfect innings were pitched on the same day for the first time. Starter Luis Garcia threw one in the second inning, while closer Phil Maton threw one in the seventh.
In the same year, Lowe lined out to first baseman José Miranda of the Minnesota Twins, who threw out Corey Seager at third base and then threw to shortstop Carlos Correa to get Marcus Semien at second.
A.L. Player of the Week went to Lowe due to such phenomenal gameplay. He hit 4 H.R. and 11 RBI in 6 games. Lowe topped the Major League Baseball in runs batted in, home runs, and total bases (tied 24). He had a batting line that led the majors with 48 foul tips in 2022.
Major League Baseball Stats
Being a first baseman, Nathaniel Lowe bats from the left and throws from the right. To date, he has a batting average of 0.278 with an incredible 56 home runs, and 178 Runs Batted In (RBI).
Nathaniel Lowe Exploding to Perfection
In 2022, Lowe has shown a steady ability to make solid contact with the bat. These extreme levels are not likely to be maintained for long. His plate discipline has improved, as seen by an increase in walks and a decrease in strikeouts, albeit he has little room for growth after already ranking first on the club in walks the previous year.
Overall, the Texas Rangers’ offense has been below par. They have the 13th-worst wRC+ in MLB at 99 as a team. As previously established, Seager and Semien have gotten off to solid (but not spectacular) beginnings with the Rangers. Only Adolis Garcia has been an average hitter with better results for this team, with a 112 wRC+. Who stands out as the top dog among these individuals? That’s Nathaniel Lowe.
Most of this team’s hitting production can be attributed to Lowe. The first baseman leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, wRC+, wOBA, and batting average on balls in play. Behind Corey Seager (32 homers) and ahead of Marcus Semien and Jaime Garcia, he ranks third in wins above replacement (WAR). This season, he’s been their best hitter. Seager, Semien, and Lowe form a formidable trio that will be a factor in upcoming campaigns.
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Conclusion
The club now has a permanent first baseman. The state of Texas has been an excellent fit for Lowe. This squad is built on a solid base, which will only get stronger as the youthful core continues developing and their major league talent continues to deliver.
Unexpectedly, Marcus Semien had a solid second-half revival. With his continued good health, Corey Seager is on pace for another 30-home run season. But Nathaniel Lowe’s campaign has made him stand out. He is not just one of the top hitters in the league but has been a driving force for this squad. We should give Lowe his flowers since he is an outstanding first baseman.